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F    E    S    T    U    S 


A    POEM 


BY 


PHILIP    JAMES    BAILEY 


ILLUSTRATIONS    BY    HAMMETT    BILLIXGS. 


FKOM    THE    TIIlKD.LpyD.O',  EpiT10?>, 


NEW     YOEK: 
JAMES    MILLER,    Publisher,   647    Broadway. 

1872. 


Entered  according  to  Act  ot  Congress,  in  the  year  1852,  by 

Benjamin  B.  Mcsset  &  Company, 

in  the  Clerk's  Olfi;e  of  the  District  Court  of  tiie  Dist!i(.t  of  Massac huselW 


DEDICATION. 

My   Father  !   unto   thee,   to   whom   I   owe 
All   that   I    am,   all   that   I   have   and   can, 
Who    madest   me   in   thyself  the   sum    of  man 

In    all   his   generous   aims   and   powers    to    know, 

These   first   fruits   bring    I  ;    nor   do    thou   forego 
Marking   when    I    the   bo3dsh   feat   began, 
Which  numbers  now  near  three  years  from  its  plan, 

Not   twenty   summers   had   imbrowned   my   brow. 
Life   is   at  blood-heat   every  page   doth   prove. 

Bear   with   it.      Nature   means    Necessity. 

If  there  be  aught  which  thou  canst    love,  it    spruigs 

Out   of  the  hope   that   I  might   earn   that   love. 
More   unto   me   than   immortality. 

Or   to   have    strung   my   harp    with   golden   strings. 


1839 


3G5984 


PREFACE 


TO    THE    AMERICAN    E  D  1 1  I  O  N. 


We  here  present  to  the  American  public  a  book  which 
has  produced  no  little  sensation  in  England,  and  which 
has  been,  for  some  time,  known  to  many  in  this  country. 
But  although  the  first  edition  was  issued  six  years  since, 
it  has  had  but  a  limited  circulation  among  us  ;  and  it  is 
believed  that,  in  republishing  "  Festus,"  we  not  only  per- 
form a  work  which  its  merits  demand,  but  open,  for  the 
first  time,  to  many  who  will  appreciate  it,  a  great  and 
original  poem.  The  peculiar  value  of  the  second  English 
edition,  from  which  this  is  printed,  consists  in  the  "  Proem," 
which  was  not  attached  to  the  first. 

With  many  minds,  it  will  be  difficult  to  acquit  the 
author  from  the  charge  of  irreverence.  For  this  purpose, 
we  refer  to  his  vindication  in  the  Proem  and  in  the  body 
of  the  work ;  by  which  the  reader  will  perceive  that  he 
is  free  from  irreverence  in  spirit,  whatever  question  there 
may  be    as    to   the    propriety  of    certain    forms    of    expres- 


%  •  ♦  ►>■>>-?»•»♦ 

't  ■*    ""  ••    •  ♦••  •    • 


sion.  As  to  the  extravagances,  which  all  will  discover 
they  are  the  extravagances  of  deep  and  eloquent  passion  -^ 
the  luxuriant  overgrowth  of  a  profoundly  rich  soil.  With 
all  its  faults,  "  Festus  "  is  a  great  poem  —  a  mine  of  thought 
and  imagery.  It  is  perfectly  safe  to  pronounce  it  one  of 
the  most  powerful  aud  splendid  proaujtions  of  the  age. 


PROEM. 


This  time  is  equal  to  all  time  that's  past 
Of  like  extent,  nor  needs  to  hide  its  face 
Before  the  future.     Each  is  missioned  here. 
Our  God  is  still  as 'kind,  and  all  His  gifts 
Like  wondrous,  like  unlimited,  like  fair. 
As  when  the  wind  first  blew.     Man  is  to  God 
That  he  hath  ever  been.     Still  shines  the  sun 
As  keen  and  pure  on  the  gray  rotting  rock. 
As  on  the  universal  matter  once, 
Ere  now  marmoreal  floods  had  spread  their  couch 
Of  purdurable  snow,  or  granite  wrought 
Its  skyward  impulse  from  earth's  hearth  of  fire 
Up  to  insanest  heights.     And  still  to  them 
Who  live  alone  with  nature  and  with  God, 
Smile  with  the  sun,  and  sadden  with  the  moon. 
The  elements  their  brethren,  e'en  as  men. 
Come  gifts  unasked,  unmeasured  like  the  light 

2 


10  PROEM. 

Whicli  lights  at  countless  points  the  formless  whole. 

Wherefore  let  us  too  bless  God  and  take  heart; 

All  ages  are  His  children,  and  all  worlds 

Form  from  His  breath  like  dew-drops  out  of  air ; 

He  life  in  all  infusing.     Nor  is  this 

An  outlawed  orb  nor  excommunicate.    . 

All  things  He  makes,  He  loves  and  blesses  too. 

And  renders  rich  with  gifts  and  powers ;  that  each 

Teaching  themselves  and  others,  Him  may  learn. 

One  gift  to  some,  to  some  another.     Thus 

Nature  is  justly  deemed  of  but  by  few, 

And  wisdom  scantly  welcomed;  for  her  fare 

Tiacks  dainties,  though  to  all  she  setteth  forth 

Her  homely  bread,  and  hospitable  wine, 

And  sacred  salt.     And  though  we  should  by  art 

Bring  earth  to  gas,  and  desiccate  the  sea 

To  a  thin  sheet  of  vapor,  we  shall  yet 

Find,  in  the  end,  the  volume  of  the  world 

Is  legible  alone  to  those  who  use 

The  interlinear  version  of  the  light ; 

Which  is  the  spirit's  and  given  within  ourselv(^s. 

Poetry  is  itself  a  thing  of  God ; 
He  made  His  prophets  poets:  and  the  more 
We  feel  of  poesie  do  we  become 
Like  God  in  love  and  power,  —  under-makers. 
And  song  is  of  the  supernatural 


PROEM.  11 

Natural  utterance ;  and  solely  can 
Speak  the  unbounded  beauty  of  the  world, 
And  the  premortal  concords  of  pure  mind. 
All  great  lays,  equals  to  the  minds  of  men, 
Deal  more  or  less  with  the  Divine,  and  have 
For  end  some  good  of  mind  or  soul  of  man. 
The  mind  is  this  world's,  but  the  soul  is  God's ; 
The  wise  man  joins  them  here  all  in  his  power. 
The  high  and  holy  works,  amid  lesser  lays. 
Stand  up  like  churches  among  village  cots ; 
And  it  is  joy  to  think  that  in  every  age. 
However  much  the  world  was  wrong  therein, 
The  greatest  works  of  mind  or  hand  have  been 
Done  unto  God.     So  may  they  ever  be! 
It  shows  the  strength  of  wish  we  have  to  be  great. 
And  the  sublime  humility  of  might. 

True  fiction  hath  in  it  a  higher  end 
Than  fact ;   it  is  the  possible  compared 
With  what  is  merely  positive,  and  gives 
To  the  conceptive  soul  an  inner  world, 
A  higher,  ampler  Heaven  than  that  wherein 
The  nations  sun  themselves.     In  that  bright  state 
Are  met  the  mental  creatures  of  the  men 
Whose  names  are  writ  highest  on  the  rounded  crown 
Of  Fame's  triumphal  arch  ;  the  shining  shapes 
Which  star  the  skies  of  that  invisible  land, 


12  PROEM. 

Which,  whosoe'er  would  enter,  let  him  learn  ;  - 

'Tis  not  enough  to  draw  forms  fair  and  lively. 

Their  conduct  likewise  must  be  beautiful ; 

A  hearty  holiness  must  crown  the  work, 

As  a  gold  cross  the  minster-dome,  and  show, 

Like  that  instonement  of  divinity, 

That  the  whole  building  doth  belong  to  God. 

And  for  the  book  before  us,  though  it  were, 

What  it  is  not,  supremely  little,  like 

The  needled  angle  of  a  high  church  spire. 

Its  sole  end  points  to  God  the  Father's  glory, 

From  all  eternity  seen  ;  making  clear 

His  might  and  love  in  saving  sinful  man. 

For  though  sin-saturated  like  a  wick 

In  wax,  consuming  with  cathartic  fire. 

The  spirit  yet  enshrined  in  Heaven  shall  shine, 

A  burning  glory  dedicate  to  God. 

One   bard   shows  God   as   He   deals  with   states   and 

kings ; 
Another,  as  He  dealt  with  the  first  man ; 
Another,  as  with  Heaven  and  earth  and  hell ; 
Ours,  as  He  loves  to  order  a  chance  soul 
Chosen  out  of  the  world,  from  first  to  last. 
All  points  are  central  to  the  Infinite: 
Therefore  it  is  that  Deity  which  fills 
The  spheres,  unnumbered  but  of  Him  who  made 


PROEM.  13 

The  space-existent  whole,  one  human  heart 

With  equal  power  and  specialty  inspires. 

And  aU  along  it  is  the  heart  of  man 

Emblemed,  created  and  creative  mind. 

It  is  a  statued  mind  and  naked  heart 

Which  is  struck  out.     Other  bards  draw  men  dressed 

In  manners,  customs,  foims,  appearances. 

Laws,  places,  times,  and  countless  accidents 

Of  peace  or  polity :    to  him  these  are  not  ; 

He  makes  no  mention,  takes  no  compt  of  them :  — 

But  shows,  however  great  his  doubts,  sins,  trials, 

Whatever  earthbom  pleasures  soil  man's  soul, 

What  power  soever  he  may  gain  of  evil, 

That  still,  till  death,  time  is ;  that  God's  great  Heaven 

Stands  open  day  and  night  to  man  and  spirit ; 

For  all  are  of  the  race  of  God,  and  have 

In  themselves  good.     The  life-writ  of  a  heart, 

Whose  firmest  prop  and  highest  meaning  was 

The  hope  of  serving  God  as  poet-priest. 

And  the  belief  that  He  would  not  put  back 

Love-offerings,  though  brought  to  Him  by  hands 

Unclean  and  earthy,  even  as  fallen  man's 

Must  be;  and  most  of  all,  the  thankful  show 

Of  His  high  power  and  goodness  in  redeeming 

And  blessing  souls  that  love  Him,  spite  of  sin 

And  their  old  earthy  strain, — these  are  the  aims, 


14  PROEM. 

« 

The  doctrines,  truths,  and  staple  of  the  stor}^ 

What  theme  sublimer  than  soul  being  saved  I 

'Tis  the  bard's  aim  to  show  the  mind-made  world 

Without,  within;    how  the  soul  stands  with  God, 

And  the  unseen  realities  about  us. 

It  is  a  view  of  life  spiritual 

And  earthly.     Let  all  look  upon  it,  then. 

In  the  same  light  it  was  drawn  and  colored  in ; 

In  faith,  in  that  the  writer  too  hath  faith, 

Albeit  an  effect,  and  not  a  cause. 

Faith  is  a  higher  faculty  than  reason, 

Though  of  the  brightest  power  of  revelation  ; 

As  the  snow-headed  mountain  rises  o'er 

The  lightning,  and  applies  itself  to  Heaven. 

We  know  in  daytime  there  are  stars  about  us. 

Just  as  at  night,  and  name  them  what  and  where 

By  sight  of  science;    so  by  faith  we  know. 

Although  we  may  not  see  them  till  our  night. 

That  spiiits  are  about  us,  and  believe, 

That,  to  a  spirit's  eye,  all  Heaven  may  be 

As  full  of  angels  as  a  beam  of  light 

Of  motes.     As  spiritual,  it  shows  all 

Classes  of  life,  perhaps,  above  our  kind, 

Known  to  tradition,  reason,  or  God's  word. 

Whose  bright  foundations  are  the  heights  of  Heaven. 

As  earthly,  it  embodies  most  the  life 


PROEM. 


15 


Of  youth,  its  powers,  its  aims,  its  deeds,  its  failings  ; 
And,  as  a  sketch  of  world-life,  it  begins 
And  ends,  and  rightly,  in  Heaven  and  with  God; 
While  Heaven  is  also  in  the  midst  thereof 
God,  or  all  good,  the  evil  of  the  world. 
And  man,  wherein  are  both,  are  each  displayed. 
The  mortal  is  the  model  of  all  men. 
The  foibles,  follies,  trials,  sufferings  — 
And  manifest  and  manifold  are  they — 
Of  a  young,  hot,  unworld-schooled  heart  that  has 
Had  its  own  way  in  life,  and  wherein  all 
May  see  some  likeness  of  their  own,  —  'tis  these 
Attract,  unite,  and,  sunlike,  concentrate 
The  ever-moving  system  of  our  feelings. 
The  hero  is  the  world-man,  in  whose  heart 
One  passion  stands  for  all,  the  most  indulged. 
The  scenes  wherein  he  plays  his  part  are  life, 
A  sphere  whose  centre  is  co-heavenly 
With  its  divine  original  and  end. 
Like  life,  too,  as  a  whole,  the  story  hath 
A  moral,  and  each  scene  one,  as  in  life, — 
One  universal  and  peculiar  truth  — 
Shining  upon  it  like  the  quiet  moon 
Illustrating  the  obscure  unequal  earth ;  — 
And  though  these  scenes  to  careless  eyes  may  seem 
Irregular  and  rough  and  unconnected, 


16  PROEM. 

Like  to  the  stones  at  Stonehenge,  —  though  convolved 

And  in  primeval  mystery,  —  still  a  use, 

A  meaning,  and  a  purpose  may  be  marked 

Among  them  of  a  temple  reared  to  God :  — 

The  meaning  alway  dwelling  in  the  word. 

In  secret  sanctity,  like  a  golden  toy 

Mid  Beauty's  orbed  bosom.     Scenes  of  earth 

And  Heaven  are  mixed,  as  flesh  and  soul  in  man 

Eternity  pertains  alone  to  God ; 
And  immortality  to  man ;    to  those 
Which  reason  lack,  life  only.     Laws  there  are 
Twain  in  the  which  man  walks ;    the  law  of  law 
Of  custom,  conscience,  creed,  time,  circumstance ; 
Law  superficial  this  ;    the  other  is 
To  those  which  breathe  the  light,  the  law  of  laws, 
Eternal,  spiritual,  central.     These 
To  mix  breeds  chaos,  and  yet  not  to  mix 
Impossible  to  cultivated  man. 
The  more  developed  the  interior  law 
The  clearer  things  will  brighten,  till  at  last 
The  whole  world  shines  translucent,  and  we  Hve 
Priests,  prophets,  princes,  all  predestinate 
Coeval  with  the  eldest  of  the  Heavens. 
Earth  is  the  floor  of  Heaven ;    in  all  we  see 
The  great  world-worker,  the  eternal  Lord, 
And  operative  Omnipotent,  in  all 


PROEM.  n 

Sunlike  the  sole  inhabitant  of  Heaven, 

The  dweller  in  each  fairy  orb  of  dew. 

He,  the  all  Parent  of  the  seed  Divine; 

He,  the  eternal  elements  of  Heaven, 

The  golden  generations  of  the  light, 

Begets,  brings  forth.      The  world  is  God's  great  will 

In  action,  Heaven  in  repose.     The  soul 

Breathed  into  time.  He,  aye  at  last  translates 

Into  celestial  bliss,  the  life  divine. 

The  primal,  final,  total  state  of  Heaven 

And  normal  perfectness  in  Deity. 

All  that  is  good  is  deathless,  as  of  God. 

E'en  in  the  petty  segment  of  this  life 

Our  will  involves  our  capability; 

And  in  the  vast  conditions  of  the  eterne 

The  possible,  the  probable,  and  that. 

The  infinite  becoming  definite, 

The  pure  conclusive  certainty  of  Truth. 

Necessity,  like  electricity. 
Is  in  ourselves  and  all  things,  and  no  more 
Without  us  than  within  us  ;    and  we  live. 
We  of  this  mortal  mixture,  in  the  same  law 
As  the  pure  colorless  intelligence 
Which    dwells    in    Heaven,    and    the    dead    Hadeau 

shades. 
We  wil]  and  act  and  talk  of  liberty ; 

3  B* 


18  PROEM. 

And  all  our  wills  and  all  our  doings  both 

Are  limited  within  this  little  life. 

Free  will  is  but  necessity  in  play, — 

The  clattering  of  the  golden  reins  which  guide 

The  thunder-footed  coursers  of  the  sun. 

The  ship  which  goes  to  sea  informed  with  fire,  • 

Obeying  only  its  own  iron  force, 

Reckless  of  adverse  tide,  breeze  dead,  or  weak 

As  infant's  parting  breath,  too  faint  to  stir 

The  feather  held  before  it,  —  is  as  much 

The  appointed  thrall  of  all  the  elements. 

As  the  white-bosomed  bark  which  woos  the  wind, 

And  when  it  dies  desists.     And  thus  with  man; 

However  contrary  he  sets  his  heart 

To  God,  he  is  but  working  out  His  will ; 

And,  at  an  infinite  angle,  more  or  less 

Obeying  his  own  soul's  necessity. 

He  only  hath  free  will  whose  will  is  fate. 

Evil  and  good  are  God's  right  hand  and  left. 
By  ministry  of  evil  good  is  clear. 
And  by  temptation  virtue:    as  of  yore 
Out  of  the  grave  rose  God.     Let  this  be  deemed 
Enough  to  justify  the  portion  weighed 
To  the  great  spirit  Evil,  named  herein. 
If  evil  seem  the  most,  yet  good  most  is : 
A.S  water  may  be  deep  and  pure  below, 


PROEM.  19 

Although  the  face  be  filmy  for  a  time. 

And  if  the  spirit  of  evil  seem  more  in 

The  work  than  God,  it  is  but  to  work  His  ^vill, 

Who  therefore  is  all  that  the  other  seems. 

And  evil  is  in  almost  every  scene 

Of  life  more  or  less  forward.     Above  all 

The  mystery  of  the  Trinity  is  held, 

Whose  mystery  is  its  reasonableness. 

All  that  is  said  of  Deity  is  said 

In  love  and  reverence.     Be  it  so  conceived 

What  comes  before  and  after  the  great  world, — 

Deep  in  the  secretest  abyss  of  Light, 

And  Being's  most  reserved  immensity, — 

God  alone  knows  eternally;   but  with 

The  present  is  communion  creatural: 

He  liveth  in  the  sacrament  of  life. 

And  for  the  soul  of  man  delineate  here  — 

The  outline  half  invisible  —  is  shown 

The  self-sought  grace,  the  self-aspiring  truth 

And  natural  religion  of  the  heart 

Contrasting  Godhood  with  humanity 

Ever ;   whereas  the  Spirit  aye  unites. 

Temptation,  and  its  workings  in  the  heart 

Whose  faint  and  false  resistance  but  assists, — 

Ambition,  thirst  of  secret  lore,  joy,  love  — 

River-like,  doubling  sometimes  on  itself — 


20  PROEM. 

Adventure,  pleasure,  travel  heavenly 

And  earthly,  friendship,  passion,  poesie, 

Viewed  ever  in  their  spiritual  end  — 

And  power,  celestial  happiness  and  earth's 

Millennial  foretaste,  ill  annihilate. 

The  restoration  of  the  angels  lost. 

And  one  salvation  universal  given 

To  all  create,  —  all  these,  related,  form. 

With  much  beside,  the  body  of  the  work  ;  — 

The  islands,  seas,  and  mainland  of  its  orb. 

Thus  much  then  for  this  book.     It  aims  to  mark 
The  various  beliefs  as  well  as  doubts 
Which  hold  or  search  by  turns  the  mind  of  youth 
Unresting  any  where.     Its  heresies. 
If  such  they  be,  are  charitable  ones ;  — 
For  they  who  read  not  in  the  best  belief 
That  all  souls  may  be  saved,  read  to  no  end. 
We  were  made  to  be  saved.     We  are  of  God. 
Nor  bates  the  book  one  tittle  of  the  truth. 
To  smooth  its  way  to  favor  with  the  fearful. 

It  is  not  moral  standards  which  the  bard 
Is  called  on-  to  inculcate;    such  pertain 
To  other  ministries;    the  law  of  life 
His  all-comprising  province.     Yet  he  errs 
Who  faithful  may  be  to  his  higher  end. 
Unites  not  both  in  one  symmetric  plan, 


PROEM.  21 

Lofty  and  plain  and  pure  as  are  the  skies ; 
All  forms  resolving  to  one  element. 

All  rests  with  those  who  read.     A  work  or  thought 
Is  what  each  makes  it  to  himself,  and  may 
Be  full  of  great  dark  meanings,  like  the  sea, 
With  shoals  of  life  rushing ;    or  like  the  air, 
Benighted  with  the  wing  of  the  wild  dove, 
Sweeping  miles  broad  o'er  the  far  western  woods, 
With  mighty  glimpses  of  the  central  light  — 
Or  may  be  nothing  —  bodiless,  spiritless. 

Above  all  fear,  without  presumption,  he 
Who  wrote  this  work  hath  said  respecting  it 
^    These  few  brief  words,  to  face  his  friend  the  world; 
Revising,  not  reversing,  what  hath  been. 
Now  therefore  to  his  work  and  to  the  world 
The  writer  bids  God  speed !     It  matters  not 
If  they  agree  or  differ.     Each  perchance 
May  bear  true  witness  to  another  end. 
Let  then  what  hath  been,  be.     It  boots  not  here 
To  palliate  misdoings.     'Twere  less  toil 
To  build  Colossus  than  to  hew  a  hill 
Into  a  statue.     Hail  and  farewell,  all ! 


F  E  S  T  U  S . 


Scene  —  Heaven, 

God. 

Eternity  hath  snowed  its   years  upon  them ; 
And  the  white  winter  of  their  age  is  come, 
The  world  and  all  its  worlds  ;    and  all  shaU  end 
Seraphim.     God !   God !   God ! 

As  flames  in  skies 

We  bum  and  rise 

And  lose  ourselves  in  Thee : 

Years  on  years  ! 

And  nought  appears 

Save  God  to  be. 

God!   God!   God! 

To  us  no  thought 

Hath  Being  brought 


24  FESTUS. 

Toward  Thee  that  doth  not  move 
Years  on  years ! 
And  what  appears 
Save  God  to  love? 
God!   God!   God! 
All  Thou  dost  make 
Lies  like  a  lake 
Below  Thine  infinite  eye 
Years  en  years! 
And  all  appears 
Save  God  to  die. 
Cherubim.     As  sun  and  star, 
How  high  or  far, 
Show  but  a  boundless  sky; 
So  creature  mind 
Is  all  confined 

To  show  Thee,  God,  most  High ! 
The  sun  still  burns, 
Tlie  sun  still  turns 
Round,  round  himself  and  round 
So  creature  mind 
To  self's  confined, 
But  Thou,  God,  hast  no  bound ! 
Systems  arise, 
Or  a  world  dies. 
Each  constant  hour  in  air; 
But  creature  mind, 
In  Heaven  confined. 
Lives  on  like  Thet»,  God !   there. 


FESTUS 


25 


Seraphim  and  Cherubim.     God !   God !   God  ! 

Thou  fill'st  our  eyes 

As  were  the  skies 

One  burnmg,  boundless  sun  ; 

While  creature  mind, 

In  path  confined, 

Passeth  a  spot  thereon. 

God!   God!   God! 
Lucifer.     Ye  thrones  of  Heaven,  how  bright,  how 
pure  ye  are ! 
How  have  ye  brightened  since  I  saw  ye  first! 
How  have  I  darkened  since  ye  saw  me  last! 
What  is  the  dark  abyss  of  fire,  and  what 
The  ravenous  heights  of  air,  o'er  which  I  reign, 
In  agony  of  glory,  to  these  seats  ] 
The  loathsome  cavern  of  the  oracle, 
O'er  which  ye  rise  in  templed  majesty. 
Filled  with  the  incense  of  all  worshippers. 
And  echoing  with  the  eloquence  of  God, 
Which  rolls  in  sunny  clouds  around  the  Heavens. 
Yet  must  I  work  through  world  and  life  my  fate ; 
And  winding  through  the  wards  of  human  hearts, 
Steal  their  incarnate  strength.      Death  does  his  work 
In  secret  and  in  joy  intense,  untold: 
As  though  an  earthquake  smacked  its  mumbling  lips 
O'er  some  thick-peopled  city.     But  for  me, 
Exists  not   peace  nor  pleasure,  even  here, 
Where  all  beside,  the  very  faintest  thought, 
Is  rapture.     I  will  speak  to  God  as  erst. 


26  FESTUS. 

Father  of  spirit,  as  the  sun  of  air! 

Beginning  of  all  ends,  and  end  of  all 

Beginnings,  throughout  whole  Eternity; 

From  whom  Eternity  and  every  power 

Perfect,  and  pure  cause,  is  and  emanates ; 

Originator  without  origin  ! 

End  without  end !   Creator  of  all  ages. 

And  sabbath  of  all  Being;    who  hast  made 

All  numbers  sacred,  who  art  all  and  one ! 

At  whose  right  hand  the  wisdom  of  all  worlds 

Combined,  is  only  fearful  foolishness 

Or  inarticulate  madness,  —  and  Thou,  Lord! 

Maker  and  Perfecter  of  all,  the  one! 

Being  above  all  Being,  God  the  Life ! 

Who  art  the  way  whereon  the  world  proceeds 

From  God,  all-making,  and  whereby  returns 

The  ever  generated  universe !  — 

Who  rulest  all  worlds  in  the  law  of  light. 

Thy  nature  and  their  own  ;    who  art  before 

All  ages,  angels,  blessed,  times  and  worlds ; 

Word  that  in  every  world  art  safe  to  save 

All  souls,  impregned  with  spirit,  God-begot! 

And  Thou  eternal  spirit-Deity! 

The  sanctifier  of  the  universe ! 

Being,  and  Life,  and  Spirit,  who  dost  make, 

Destroyest,  recreatest,  makest  God ! 

God  one  and  Trine !   thou  seest  me  here  again ! 

Still,  sunlike,  though  eclipsed,  of  blinding  power 

And  fiery  cause,  and  evemess  of  ill ; 


FESTUS.  'Zi 

Behold  I  bow  before  Thee ;    hear  Thou  me ! 

God. 
What  wouldst  thou,  Lucifer  1 

Lucifer.  There  is  a  youth 

Among  the  sons  of  men  1  fain  would  have 
Given  up  wholly  to  me. 

God. 

He  is  thine, 
To  tempt. 

Lucifer.     I  thank  Thee,  Lord ! 

God. 

Upon  his  soul 
Thou  hast  no  power.     All  souls  are  mine  for  aye. 
And  I  do  give  thee  leave  to  this  that  he 
May  know  my  love  is  more  than  all  his  sin, 
And  prove  unto  himself  that  nought  but  God 
Can  satisfy  the  soul  He  maketh  great. 

Lucifer.     Thou,  God,  art  all  in  one !     Thy  infinite 
Bounds  being.      Thou  hast  said  the  world  shall  end. 
The  world  is  perfect,  as  concerns  itself. 
And  all  its  parts  and  ends  ;   not  as  towards  Thee. 
So  man  is  likest  and  unlikest  God, 
Of  all  existence ;    therefore  doth  as  much 
Ensemble  Thee  as  any  act  a  mind. 
In  him  of  whom  I  ask,  I  seek  once  more 
To  tempt  the  li\ing  world,  and  then  depart. 

The  Holy  Ghost.     And  I  will  hallow  him  to  the 
ends  of  Heaven, 
That  though  he  plunge  his  soul  in  sin  like  a  sword 


28  FESTUS. 

In  water,  it  shall  no  wise  cling  to  him. 
Pie  is  of  Heaven.     All  things  are  known  in  Heaven, 
Ere  aimed  at  upon  earth.     The  child  is  chosen. 
Saints.  Another  soul 

The  Holy  One 
Hath  chosen  out  of  earth; 

And  there  is  none 

Throughout  the  whole 
Like  worthy  of  his  birth. 
Guardian  Angel.      Oh !  who  hath  joy  like  mine  ? 
was  I  not  here 
When  from  Thy  boundless  bosom,  as  a  star 
Out  of  the  air,  that  soul  was  kindled,  Lord ! 
And  to  me  given  to  guard  and  guide  —  while  both, 
Mid  starry  strains  out  of  the  depths  of  Heaven, 
Fell  at  Thy  feet  in  worship] — joy  of  joys  I 
To  you,  ye  saints  and  angels,  let  me  speak ; 
For  ye  I  see  rejoice  with  me.     Ye  know 
What  'tis  to  triumph  o'er  temptation,  what 
To  fall  before  it ;    how  the  young  spirit  faints  — 
The  virgin  tremor,  the  heart's  ebb  and  flow, 
When  first  some  vast  temptation  calmly  comes 
And  states  itself  before  it,  like  the  sun 
Low  looming  in  the  west,  above  the  wave 
Of  wimpling  streamlet,  ere  its  waters  grow 
To  size  aortal.     Than  the  Fiend  himself 
There  is  no  greater  evil.     Less  the  shame 
Of  yielding,  more  the  glory  of  conquering, 
In  him,  to  whom  he  goes,  this  soul  elect. 


FESTUS.  21) 

From  infancy  through  childhood,  up  to  youth, 

Have  I  this  soul  attended ;   marked  him  blest 

With  all  the  sweet  and  sacred  ties  of  life ;  — 

The  prayerful  love  of  parents,  pride  of  friends, 

Prosperity,  and  health  and  ease,  the  aids 

Of  learning,  social  converse  with  the  good 

And  gifted,  and  his  heart  all  lit  with  love. 

Like  to  the  rolling  sea  with  living  light ;  — 

Hopeful  and  generous  and  earnest;   rich 

In  commune  with  high  spirits,  loving  truth 

And  wisdom  for  their  own  divinest  selves : 

Tracking  the  deeds  of  the  world's  glory,  or 

Conning  the  words  of  wisdom.  Heaven-inspired, 

As  on  the  soul,  in  pure  effectual  ray. 

The  bright,  transparent  atoms,  thought  by  thought, 

Fall  fixed  forevermore.     And  thus  his  days. 

Through  sunny  noon,  or  mooned  eve,  or  night 

Star-armied,  shining  through  the  deathless  air, 

All  radiantly  elapsed,  in  good  or  joy. 

All  this  for  long  I  marked.      There  grew,  at  length, 

A  change  within  his  spirit,  and  I  feared 

A  fatal  and  a  final  fall  from  good. 

God's  love  seemed  lost  upon  him.     He  became 

Heart-deadened.     Watching,  warning,  vain,  I  fled 

Hither  to  intercede  with  God  our  Lord, 

To  bless  him  with  salvation.     We  may  plead 

Alway  for  those  we  love,  by  leave  divine. 

Nor  knew  I  till  this  moment,  with  all  Heaven, 

That,  in  the  righteous  providence  of  God, 


Si)  FESTUS. 

That    soul   was    saved.      Thou    knowest,    Lord!    the 

mould 
Of  mortals,  and  the  infinite  end  whereto 
The  souls  Thou  savest  are  predestinate ; 
Oh!   be  Thy  mercy  mighty  to  this  soul, 
Fiend  threatened ;  nor  permit  him  who  presides 
O'er  hell's  eternal  holocaust,  too  far 
To  tempt  or  tamper  with  the  heart  of  man  !  — 

God. 
My  mercy  doth  outstretch  the  universe ; 
Shall  it  not  be  sufficient  for  one  soul] 

Lucifer.     I  am  the  wrath  of  God  unto  myself. 
And  by  him  made  to  do  my  part.     Do  thou 
Thine.     They  are  far  enough  apart,  I  ween. 

Guardian  Angel.     The  heaven-strung  chords 
of  man's  immortal  soul 
Are  not  for  thee  to  wither  at  thy  will. 
Bear  witness,  all  ye  blessed,  to  the  word ;  — 
Angels,  intelligences,  sons  of  God ! 
Ye  who  know  nought  but  truth,  feel  nought  but  love, 
Will  nought  but  bliss,  do  nought  but  righteousness ! 
Whose  life  was  ere  the  Heavens  were  conceived. 
The  stars  begotten,  or  the  ages  bom  ; 
Ye  many-ordered  hierarchies,  which  are 
The  love,  truth,  justice,  majesty  and  might. 
Dominion,  glory,  wisdom,  bliss  of  God  ; 
Ye  through  whose  ministry  of  mercy  —  His 
Immediate,  ever  instant,  active,  all 
Spirits  and  worlds  are  governed  —  age  by  age 


FESTUS.  31 

Gazing  and  gaming  glory ;   ye  who  stand, 

Stirless,  before  the  throne,  entranced  in  joy ; 

Or  ye,  whose  life  is  to  present  all  souls 

Reborn  to  their  Creator ;    or  to  search 

The  golden-globed  skies  for  deeds  of  grace  ; 

And  ye  who  move  all  Heavens,  in  whose  names 

The  name  of  God  is,  as  in  angels'  all ; 

The  crown,  the  wisdom,  the  intelligence, 

Kindness,  and  strength  and  beauty,  splendor,  worth, 

Original  and  rule ;    and  ye  who  move 

Restless  around  the  throne,  the  burning  seven. 

The  virtue,  power,  salvation,  fire  and  rest. 

Blessing  and  praise  of  God;  and  ye  who  rule 

Regions  or  kingdoms,  states,  tribes,  families, 

Ages  and  times,  and  seasons,  and  events ; 

Systems  and  elements,  material  powers. 

Mental  and  spiritual ;    or  ye  who  bear 

Souls  from  the  Heaven  to  earth,  from  earth  to  Heaven ; 

Ye  tenants  of  the  archetypal  worlds 

And  spiritual  spheres  ;    and  you,  ye  saints  ! 

Freed  once  on  earth  into  the  liberty 

Of  the  necessity  which  is  of  God ; 

Yours  are  the  many  multitudes  of  stars, 

And  bliss  and  power  forever,  ye  are  gods  ! 

And  live  an  endless  life,  bespoken  here ; 

Bear  witness,  all,  that  happiness  succeeds 

To  godliness  ;    and  that,  despite  of  sin, 

The  world  may  recognize  in  all   time's  scenes. 

Though  belts  of  clouds  bar  half  its  burning  disk, 


82  FESTUS. 

The  overruling,  overthrowing  power, 
Which  by  our  creature  purposes  works  out 
Its  deeds,  and  by  our  deeds  its  purposes. 

Lucifer.     God!   for  Thy  glory  only  can  I  act, 
And  for  Thy  creatures'  good.     When  creatures  stray 
Farthest    from    Thee,    then    warmest    towards    them 

burns 
Thy  love,  even  as  yon  sun  beams  hotliest  on 
The  earth  when  distant  most. 

God. 

The  earth  whereon 
He  dwells,  this  grain  selected  from  the  sands 
Of  life,  dies  with  him. 

Lucifer.  God!  I  go  to  do 

Thy  wiU. 

God. 
Thou,  too,  who  watchest  o'er  the  world 
Whose  end  I  fix,  prepare  to  have  it  judged.   . 

Angel  of  Earth.     Let  me  not  then  have  watched 
o'er  it  in  vain. 
From  age  to  age,  from  hour  to  hour  I  still 
Have  hoped  it  would  grow  better  —  hope  so  now; 
'Tis  better  than  it  once  was,  and  hath  more 
Of  mind  and  freedom  than  it  ever  had. 
I  love  it  more  than  ever.     Thou  didst  give 
It  to  me  as  a  child.     To  me  earth  is 
Even  as  the  boundless  universe  to  Thee  ; 
Nay,  more!  for  Thou  couldst  make  another.     It  is 
My  world.     Take  it  not  from  me,  Lord !  Thou,  Christ ! 


FESTUS.  f^'] 

Mad'st  it  the  altar  where  Thou  offeredst  up 

Thyself  for  the  creation.     Let  it  be 

Immortal  as  Thy  love.     And  altars  are 

Holy ;   and  sister  angels,  sister  orbs 

Hail  it  afar  as  such.     Oh!  I  have  heard 

World  question  world  and  answer ;    seen  them  weep 

Each  other  if  eclipsed  for  one  red  hour, 

And  of  all  worlds  most  generous  was  mine, 

The  tenderest  and  the  fairest. 

Lucifer.  Knowest  thou  not 

God's  Son  to  be  the  brother  and  the  friend 
Of  spirit  every  where  1     Or  hath  thy  soul 
Been  bound  forever  to  thy  foolish  world  ] 

Angel.     Star  unto  star  speaks  light,  and  world  to 
world 
Repeats  the  password  of  the  universe 
To  God ;   the  name  of  Christ  —  the  one  great  word 
Well  worth  all  languages  in  earth  or  Heaven. 

Son  of  God.     Think  not  I  lived  and  died  for  thine 
alone, 
And  that  no  other  sphere  hath  hailed  me  Christ. 
My  life  is  ever  suffering  for  love. 
In  judging  and  redeeming  worlds  is  spent 
Mine  everlasting  being. 

Lucifer.  Earth  He  next 

Will  judge ;   for  so  saith  God. 

Angel  of  Earth.  Be  it  not,  Lord  ! 

Thou  art  a  God  of  goodness  and  of  love; 
He  is  the  evil  of  the  universe, 

5 


34  FESTUS. 

And  loveth  not  the  earth,  Thy  Son,  nor  Thee. 
Thou  knowest  best. 

Lucifer.  Behold  now  all  yon  worlds ! 

The  space  each  fills  shall  be  its  successor. 
Accept  the  consolation. 

Angel  of  Earth.  Earth !   Oh,  Earth  ! 

Lucifer.      'Tis  earth    shall    lead   destruction ;    she 
shall  end. 
The  stars  shall  wonder  why  she  comes  no  more 
On  her  accustomed  orbit,  and  the  sun 
Miss  one  of  his  apostle  lights  ;   the  moon, 
An  orphan  orb,  shall  seek  for  earth  for  aye. 
Through  time's  untrodden  depths,  and  find  her  not  ; 
No  more  shall  morn,  out  of  the  holy  east, 
Stream  o'er  the  amber  air  her  level  light ; 
Nor  evening,  with  the  spectral  fingers,  draw 
Her  star-sprent  curtain  round  the  head  of  earth ; 
Her  footsteps  never  thence  again  shall  grace 
The  blue  sublime  of  Heaven.     Her  grave  is  dug. 
I  see  the  stars,  night-clad,  all  gathering 
In  long  and  sad  procession.     Death's  at  work. 
And,  one  by  one,  shall  all  yon  wandering  worlds, 
"Whether  in  orbed  path  they  roll,  or  trail. 
In  an  inestimable  length  of  light. 
Their  golden  train  of  tresses  after  them. 
Cease ;   and  the  sun,  centre  and  sire  of  light. 
The  keystone  of  the  world-built  arch  of  Heaven, 
Be  left  in  burning  solitude.     The  stars, 
Which  stand  as  thick  as  dewdrops  on  the  fields 


FESTUS.  35 

Of  Heaven,  and  ail  they  comprehend,  shall  pass. 
The  spirits  of  all  worlds  shall  all  depart 
To  their  great  destinies ;    and  thou  and  I, 
Greater  in  grief  than  worlds,  shall  live  as  now. 
In  hell's  dark  annals  there  is  something  writ, 
Which  shall  amaze  man  yet.     There !  to  thy  earth ! 
Angel  of  Earth.     There  is  a  blind  world,  yet  unlit 
by  God, 
Rolling  around  the  extremest  edge  of  light ; 
Where  all  things  are  disaster  and  decay, 
The  outcast  of  all  being ;   no  one  thing 
Fitting  another:  that  is  fit  for  thee. 
Be  that  thy  world,  but  not  the  living  earth. 
Stretch  forth  Thy  shining  shield,  O  God  !  the  Heavens, 
Over  the  prostrate  earth,  an  armed  friend. 
And  save  her  from  the  swift  and  violent  hell 
Her  beauty  hath  enchanted!   from  the  wrath 
Of  love  like  his.  Oh  save  her,  though  by  death! 

God. 
Destruction  and  salvation  are  the  hands 
Upon  the  face  of  time.     When  both  unite, 
The  day  of  death  dawns.     Every  orb  exists 
Unto  its  preappointed  end:   and  earth, 
My  creature,  the  elect  of  worlds,  era  all 
Is  saved.     The  world  shall  perish  as  a  worm 
Upon  destruction's  path  ;    the  universe 
Evanish  like  a  ghost  before  the  sun, 
Yea,  like  a  doubt  before  the  truth  of  God, 
Yet  nothing  more  than  death  shall  perish.     Then, 


8fi  FESTUS. 

Rejoice,  ye  souls  of  God  regenerate. 

Ye  indwellers  divine  of  Deity ; 

In  Him  ye  are  immortal  as  Himself 

Son    of    God.      O'er   all    things    are   eternity   and 
change, 
And  special  predilection  of  our  God. 
Thou  who  createst  souls,  as  the  sun  clouds. 
Out  of  the  sea  of  spirit,  sire  of  both 
The  first  and  second  natures  of  Thy  Son, 
In  whom  the  maker  and  the  made  make  one, 
Deific  spirit!   who  in  every  world 
Payeth  creation's  penalties ;   in  all. 
Is  heir  of  God  and  nature,  and  in  Thee, 
And  in  self-worship  deifies  himself 
And  you  blest  spirits  for  whom  I  died,  for  whom. 
Fore-fated,  fore-atoned  for  from  the  first. 
All  Heaven  reserves  the  fulness  of  its  bliss; 
Creator  and  created!   witness,  both, 
How  I  have  loved  ye,  as  God-natured  life 
Alone  can  love  and  suffer.     Let  the  earth 
And  every  orb,  the  offspruig  of  all  air, 
Perish ;    but  all  I  die  for,  live  for  me. 

God. 
The  earth  shall  not  be  when  her  sabbath  ends, 
In  the  high  close  of  order. 

Lucifer.  Heaven,  farewell ! 

Hell  is  more  bearable  than  nothingness. 

Thrones.     Thou,  God,  art  Lord  of  mercy!  and  Thy 
thoughts 


FESTUS.  iM 

• 

Axe  high  above  the  star-dust  of  the  world! 

Dominations.     Yet  o'er  the  meanest  atom  reignest 
Thou 
Omnipotent,  as  o'er  the  universe  ! 

Powers.     Thy  might  is  self-creative,  and  Thy  works, 
Immortal,  temporal,  destructible. 
Are  ever  in  Thy  sight  and  blessed  there. 
The  Heavens  are  Thy  bosom,  and  Thine  eye 
Is  high  o'er  all  existence ;    yea,  the  worlds 
Are  but  Thy  shining  footprints  upon  space. 

Princedoms.     Eternal  Lord !  Thy  strength  compels 
the  worlds. 
And  bows  the  heads  of  ages ;    at  Thy  voice 
Their  unsubstantial  essence  wears  away. 

Virtues.     All-favoring  God !  we  glory  but  in  Thee. 
Ye  Heavens  exalt,  expand  yourselves !    they  come, 
The  infinite  generations,  all  Divine, 
Of  Deity,  our  brethren  and  our  friends  ! 

Archangels.      Thou  who  hast  thousand  names,  as 
night  hath  stars. 
Which  light  Thee  up  to  eye  create,  yet  not 
One  thousandth  part  illume  Thy  boundlessness, 
Nor  that  abyss  of  Being  'midst  of  which 
Thy  countless  wonders  constellate  themselves ; 
Thy  light,  the  light  we  dwell  in  shall  at  last 
Fulfil  the  universe,  and  all  be  bliss ; 
The  consummation  of  all  ages  come. 
We  praise  Thee  for  Thy  mercies,  and  for  this. 
The  first,  and  last,  the  greatest  of  all  boons. 


?.H  FESTUS. 

• 

Angels.     Thee,  God !  we  praise 

Through  our  ne'er  sunsetting  days. 

And  Thy  just  ways,  • 

Divine: 

In  Thy  hand  is  every  spirit, 

And  the  meed  the  same  may  merit ; 

All  which  all  the  worlds  inherit 

Are  Thine. 

It  is  not  unto  creatures  given 

To  scale  the  purposes  of  Heaven, 

Alway  just  and  kind ; 

But  before  Thy  mighty  breath, 

Life  and  spirit,  dust  and  death. 

The  boundless  All  is  driven. 

Like  clouds  by  wind. 
Angel  of  Earth.     Woe!  woe  at  last  in  Heaven 

Earth  to  death  is  given; 

The  ends  of  things  hang  still 

Over  them  as  a  sky; 

Do  what  we  will. 

All's  for  eternity! 


Scene — Wood  and  Water  —  Sunset 

Festus  alone, 

Festus.     This  is  to  be  a  mortal  and  immortal ' 
To  live  within  a  circle, —  and  to  be 


FESTUS.  39 

That  dark  point  where  the  shades  of  all  things  around 

Meet,  mix  and  deepen.     All  things  unto  me 

Show  their  dark    sides.      Somewhere   there   must  be 

light. 
Oh !   I  feel  like  a  seed  in  the  cold  earth ; 
Quickening  at  heart,  and  pining  for  the  air. 
Passion  is  destiny.     The  heart  is  its  o^vn 
Fate.     It  is  well  youth's  gold  rubs  off  so  soon. 
The  heart  gets  dizzy  with  its  drunken  dance. 
And  the  voluptuous  vanities  of  life 
Enchain,  enchant,  and  cheat  my  soul  no  more. 
My  spirit  is  on  edge.     I  can  enjoy 
Nought  which  has  not  the  honeyed  sting  of  sin ; 
That  soothing  fret  which  makes  the  young  untried 
Longing  to  be  beforehand  with  their  nature. 
In  dreams  and  loneness  cry,  they  die  to  live; 
That  wanton  whetting  of  the  soul,  which,  while 
It  gives  a  finer,  keener  edge  for  pleasure. 
Wastes  more  and  dulls  the  sooner.     Eouse  thee,  heart  ; 
Bow  of  my  life  thou  yet  art  full  of  spring! 
My  quiver  still  hath  many  purposes. 
Yet  what  is  worth  a  thought  of  all  things  here? 
How  mean,  how  miserable  every  care ; 
How  doubtful,  too,  the  system  of  the  mind! 
And  then  the  ceaseless,  changeless,  hopeless  round 
Of  weariness,  and  heartlessness  and  woe. 
And  vice  and  vanity!     Yet  these  make  life; 
The  life  at  least  I  witness,  if  not  feel. 
No  matter  —  we  are  immortal.     How  I  wish 


40  lESTCS. 

I  could  love  men!   for  amid  all  life's  quests 

There  seems  but  worthy  one  —  to  do  men  good 

It  matters  not  how  long  we  live,  but  how. 

For  as  the  parts  of  one  manhood  while  here 

We  live  in  every  age:   we  think  and  feel 

And  feed  upon  the  coming  and  the  gone 

As  much  as  on  the  now  time.     Man  is  one : 

And  he  hath  one  great  heart.     It  is  thus  we  feel, 

With  a  gigantic  throb  athwart  the  sea. 

Each  others'  rights  and  wrongs ;  thus  are  we  men. 

Let  us  think  less  of  men  and  more  of  God. 

Sometimes  the  thought  comes  swiftening  over  us. 

Like  a  small  bird  winging  the  still  blue  air ; 

And  then  again,  at  other  times,  it  rises 

Slow,  like  a  cloud  which  scales  the  skies  all  breathless, 

And  just  overhead  lets  itself  down  on  us. 

Sometimes  we  feel  the  wish  across  the  mind 

Rush  like  a  rocket  tearing  up  the  sky. 

That  we  should  join  with  God  and  give  the  world 

The  slip:  but  while  we  wish,  the  world  turns  round, 

And  peeps  us  in  the  face  —  the  wanton  world ; 

We  feel  it  gently  pressing  down  our  arm  — 

The  arm  we  had  raised  to  do  for  truth  such  wonders ; 

We  feel  it  softly  bearing  on  our  side  — 

We  feel  it  touch  and  thrill  us  through  the  body  — 

And  we  are  fools,  and  there's  an  end  of  us. 

'Tis  a  fine  thought  that  sometime  end  we  must. 

There  sets  the  sun  of  suns !   dies'  in  all  fire, 

Like  Ashur's  death-great  monarch.     God  of  might! 


FESTUS.  41 

We  love  and  live  on  power.     It  is  spirit's  end. 
Mind  must  subdue.     To  conquer  is  its  life. 
Why  mad'st  Thou  not  one  spirit,  like  the  sun, 
To  king  the  world  ?     And  Oh !   might  I  have  been 
That  sun-mind,  how  I  would  have  warmed  the  world 
To  love  and  worship  and  bright  life  ! 

Lucifer,  suddenly  appearing.  Not  thou ! 

Hadst  thou  more  power,  the  more  wouldst  thou  misuse. 

Festus.     Who  art  thou,  pray  ]     I  saw  thee  not  be- 
fore. 
It  seems  as  thou  hadst  grown  out  of  the  air. 

Lucifer.     Thou  know'st  me  well.      Though  stran- 
ger to  thine  eye, 
I  am  not  to  thy  heart. 

Festus.  I  know  thee  not. 

Lucifer.     Come  nearer.     Look  on  me.     I  am  above 
thee; 
Beneath  thee,  and  around  thee,  and  before  thee. 

Festus.     Why,   art    thou    all    things,   or   dost    go 
through  all  % 
A  spirit,  or  embodied  blast  of  air'? 
I  feel  thou  art  a  spirit. 

Lucifer.  Yea,  I  am. 

Festus.     I  knew  it.     I  am  glad,  yet  tremble  so. 
What  hours  upon  hours  have  I  longed  for  this. 
And  hoped  that  thought  or  prayer  might  produce. 
I  have  besought  the  stars,  with  tears,  to  send 
A  power  unto  me;    and  have  set  the  clouds 
Until  I  thought  I  saw  one  coming :   but 

6  D* 


42  FESTUS. 

The  shadowy  giant  alway  thinned  away, 

And  I  was  fated  unimmortalized. 

What  shall  I  do  ?     Oh !   let  me  kneel  to  thee ! 

Lucifer.     Nay,  rise !  and  I'll  not  say,  for  thine  own 
sake, 
That  thou  dost  pray  in  private  to  the  Devil. 

Festus.     Father  of  lies,  thou  liest ! 

Lucifer.  I  am  he! 

It  is  enough  to  make  the  Devil  merry, 
To  think  that  men  call  on  me  momently. 
Deeming  me  ever  dungeoned  fast  in  Hell; 
Swearers  and  swaggerers  jeer  at  my  name ; 
And  oft  indeed  it  is  a  special  jest 
With  witling  gallants.     Let  me  once  appear! 
Woe's  me!  they  faint  and  shudder — pale  and  pray; 
The  burning  oath  which  quivered  on  the  lip 
Starts  back,  and  sears  and  blisters  up  the  tongue ; 
Confusion  ransacks  the  abandoned  heart. 
Quells  the  bold  blood,  and  o'er  the  vaulted  brow 
Slips  the  white  woman-hand.     To  judgment,  ho ! 
The  ^ery  pivot  of  the  earth  seems  snapped; 
And  down  they  drop  like  ruins  to  repent. 
Such  be  the  bravery  of  mighty  man ! 

Festus.      I  must  be  mad ;   or  mine  eye  cheats  my 
brain; 
And  this  strange  phantom  comes  from  over-thought, 
Like  the  white  lightning  from  a  day  too  hot. 
It  must  be  so.     But  I  will  pass  it. 

Lucifer.  Stay ! 


FESTUS.  43 

Festus.     Oh  save  me,  God !     He  is  reality ! 

Lucifer.     And  now  thou  kneel'st  to  Heaven.     Fye, 
graceless  boy ! 
Mocking  thy  Maker  with  a  cast-oiF  prayer; 
For  had  not  I  the  first  fruits  of  thy  faith] 

Festus.     Tempter,  away !     From  all  the  crowds  of 
life 
Why  single  me]     Why  score  the  young  green  bole 
For  fellage  ]     Go  !   Am  I  the  youngest,  worst  1 
No !     Light  the  fires  of  hell  with  other  souls ; 
Mine  shall  not  burn  with  thee. 

Lucifer.  Thou  judgest  harshly. 

Can  I  not  touch  thee  without  slaying  thee  ] 

Festus.     Why  art  thou  here  1     What  wouldst  thou 
have  with  me] 

Lucifer.     'Fore  all  I  would  have  gentle  words  and 
looks. 

Festus.     I  pray  thee,  go. 

Lucifer.  I  cannot  quit  thee  yet. 

But  why  so  sad  ]     Wilt  kneel  to  me  again  ] 
This  leafy  closet  is  most  apt  for  prayer. 

Festus.     Yes ;  I  will  pray  for  thee  and  for  myself 

Lucifer.     Waste  not  thy  prayers ;  I  scatter  them : 
they  reach 
No  farther  than  thy  breath  —  a  yard  or  so. 
And  as  for  me,  I  heed  them,  need  them  not. 
My  nature  God  knows  and  hath  fixed;   and  He 
Recks  little  of  the  manners  of  the  world; 
AVicked  He  holdeth  it  and  unrepentant. 


4:4  FESTUS. 

Festus.     Therefore  the  more  some  ought  to  pray. 

LuciFEii.  To  blow 

A  kiss,  a  bubble  and  a  prayer  hath  like 
Effect  and  satisfaction. 

Festus.  Let  me  hence! 

Go  tell  thy  blasphemies  and  lies  elsewhere. 
Thou  scatter  prayer!     Make  me  Thy  minister 
One  moment,  God !    that  I  may  rid  the  world 
Forever  of  its  evil.     Oh !   Thine  arm ! 

Lucifer.     Canst  rid  thyself? 

Festus.  Alas  !  no.     Get  thee  gone ! 

Can  nought  insult  thee  nor  provoke  thy  flight "? 

Lucifer.     I  laugh  alike  Ht  ruin  and  redemption. 
I  am  the  one  which  knows  nor  hope  nor  fear ; 
Which  ne'er  knew  good  nor  e'er  can  know  the  worst. 
What  thinkest  thou  can  anger  me,  or  harm  1 

Festus.     Wherefore  didst  thou  quit  Hell  1     To  drag 
me  there'? 

Lucifer.     Thou     wilt     not     guess     mine     errand. 
Deem'st  thou  aught 
Which  God  hath  made  all  evil'?     Me  He  made. 
Oft  I  do  good ;    and  thee  to  serve  I  come. 

Festus.     Did   I   not  hear   the   boast  with  thy  last 
breath 
Not  to  have  known  what  good  was*? 

Lucifer.  From  myself 

I  know  it  not;   yet  God's  will  I  must  work. 
I  come,  1  say,  to  serve  thee. 

Festus.  Well,  I  would 


FESTUS.  45 

Thou  never  hadst ;  but  speak  thy  purpose  straight. 

Lucifer.     I  heard  thy  prayer  at  sunset.     I  was  here. 
I  saw  thy  secret  longings,  unsaid  thoughts, 
Which  pray  upon  the  breast  like  night-fires  on 
A  heath.     I  know  thy  heart  by  heart.     I  read 
The  tongue  when  still  as  well  as  when  it  moves. 
And  thou  didst  pray  to  God.     Did  He  attend  1 
Or  turn  His  eye  from  the  great  glass  of  things. 
Wherein  He  worshippeth  eternally 
Himself,  to  thee  one  moment]     He  did  not. 
I  tell  thee,  nought  He  cares  for  men.     I  came 
And  come  to  profibr  thee  the  earth;   to  set 
Thee  on  a  throne  —  the  throne  of  will  unbound  — 
To  crown  thy  life  with  liberty  and  joy, 
And  make  thee  free  and  mighty  even  as  I  am. 

Festus.     I  would  not   be   as   thou   art   for   Hell's 
throne ; 
Add  Earth's  —  add  Heaven's. 

Lucifer.  I  knew  thy  proud,  high  heart. 

To  test  its  worth  and  mark  I  held  it  brave, 
In  shape  and  being  thus  myself  I  came ; 
Not  in  disguise  of  opportunity  — 
Not  as  some  silly  toy  which  serves  for  most  — 
Not  in  the  mask  of  lucre,  lust,  nor  power  — 
Not  in  a  goblin  size  nor  cherub  form  — 
But  as  the  soul  of  Hell  and  evil  came  I 
With  leave  to  give  the  kingdom  of  the  world  — 
The  freedom  of  thyself 

Festus.  Good:    prove  thy  powers. 


46  FESTUS. 

Lucifer.     Do  I  not  prove  them  1     Who  but  I,  that 
have 
Immortal  might  o'er  mine  own  mind,  and  o'er 
All  hearts  and  spirits  of  the  living  world, 
Would  share  it  with  another,  or  forego, 
One  hour,  the  great  enjoyment  of  the  whole] 
And  who  but  I  give  men  what  each  loves  best? 

Festus.     Open   the  Heavens   and  let  me  look  on 
God. 
Open  my  heart  and  let  me  see  myself 
Then  I'll  believe  thee. 

Lucifer.  Thou  shalt  not  believe 

For  that  I  give  thee,  but  for  that  I  am. 
Believe  me  first ;    then  I  will  prove  myself 
Though  sick  I  know  thee  of  the  joy  of  sense. 
Yet  those  thou  lovest  most  I  will  make  pure, 
And  render  worthy  of  thy  love ;   unfilm  them. 
That  so  thou  mayst  not  dally  with  the  blind. 
Thou  shalt  possess  them  to  their  very  souls. 
Pleasure  and  love  and  unimagined  beauty ; 
All,  all  that  be  delicious,  brilliant,  great. 
Of  worldly  things  are  mine,  and  mine  to  give. 

Festus.     What  can  be  counted  pleasure  after  love  ? 
Like  the  young  lion  which  has  once  lapped  blood. 
The  heart  can  ne'er  be  coaxed  back  to  aught  else. 

Lucifer.     I  will  sublime  it  for  thee  all  to  bliss: 
As  yet  it  hath  but  made  thee  wretched. 

Festus.  Spirit, 

It  is  not  bliss  I  seek;  I  care  not  for  it. 


FESTUS.  4:7 

I  am  above  the  low  delights  of  life. 
The  life  I  live  is  in  a  dark,  cold  cavern, 
Where  I  wander  up  and  down,  feeling  for  something 
Which  is  to  be  —  and  must  be  —  what  I  know  not ; 
But  the  incarnation  of  my  destiny- 
Is  nigh. 

Lucifer.     It  is  thy  fate  which  weighs  upon  thee. 
Necessity  sits  on  humanity. 
Like  to  the  world  on  Atlas'  neck.     'Tis  this, 
And  the  sultry  sense  of  overdrawn  life. 

Festus.  True ; 

The  worm  of  the  world  hath  eaten  out  my  heart. 

Lucifer.     I  will  renew  it  in  thee.     It  shall  be 
The  bosom  favorite  of  every  beauty. 
Even  like  a  rosebud.     Thou  shalt  render  happy. 
By  naming  who  may  love  thee.     Come  with  me. 

Festus.     I  have  a  love  on  earth,  and  one  in  Heaven. 

Lucifer.     Thou   shalt   love  ten  as  others  love  but 
one ! 

Festus.     Oh !    I  was  glad  when  something  in  me 
said, 
Come,  let  us  worship  beauty !   and  I  bowed ; 
And  went  about  to  find  a  shrine ;    but  found 
None  that  my  soul,  when  seeing,  said  enough  to. 
Many  I  met  with  where  I  put  up  prayers, 
And  had  them  more  than  answered ;  some  where  love 
Filled  the  whole  place  as  'twere  oppressed  with  Heavi^n, 
And  I  worshipped,  partly  because  others  did ; 
Partly  because  I  could  not  help  myself 


48  FESTUS. 

But  none  of  these  were  for  me;   and  away 

I  went  champing  and  choking  in  proud  pain, 

In  a  burning  wrath  that  not  a  sea  could  slake. 

So  I  betook  me  to  the  sounding  sea; 

And  overheard  its  slumberous  mutterings 

Of  a  revenge  on  man ;  whereat  almost 

I  gladdened,  for  I  felt  savage  as  the  sea. 

I  had  only  one  thing  to  behold  —  the  sea; 

I  had  only  one  thin'g  to  believe  —  I  loved ; 

Until  that  lonesome  sameness  grew  sublime 

And  darkly  beautiful  as  death,  when  some 

Bright  soul  regains  its  star-home,  or  as  Heaven 

Just  when  the  stars  falter  forth,  one  by  one, 

Like  the  first  words  of  love  from  a  maiden's  lips. 

There  are  points  from  which  we  can  command  our  life  : 

When  the  soul  sweeps  the  future  like  a  glass ; 

And  coming  things,  full  freighted  with  our  fate, 

Jut  out,  dark,  on  the  offing  of  the  mind. 

Let  them  come !     Many  will  go  down  in  sight ; 

In  the  billow's  joyous  dash  of  death  go  down. 

At  last  came  love ;  not  whence  I  sought  nor  thought  it ; 

As  on  a  ruined  and  bewildered  wight 

Rises  the  roof  he  meant  to  have  lost  forever. 

On  came  the  living  vessel  of  all  love; 

Terrible  in  its  beauty  as  a  serpent. 

Rode  down  upon  me  like  a  ship  full  sail 

And  bearing  me  before  it,  kept  me  up 

Spite  of  the  drowning  speed  at  which  we  dravc 

On,  on,  until  we  sank  both.     Was  not  this  love? 


FESTUS.  41) 

Lucifer.     Why,  how  can  I  tell  ]     I  am  not  in  lovo  ; 
But  I  have  ofttimes  heard  mine  angels  call 
Most  piteously  on  their  lost  loves  in  Heaven  ; 
And,  as  I  suffer,  I  have  seen  them  come; 
Seen  starlike  faces  peep  between  the  clouds, 
And  Hell  become  a  tolerable  torment. 
Some  souls  lose  all  things  but  the  love  of  beauty ; 
And  by  that  love  they  are  redeemable  ; 
For  in  love  and  beauty  they  acknowledge  good; 
And  good  is  God  —  the  great  Necessity. 

Festus.     I  loved  her  for  that  she  was  beautiful ; 
And  that  to  me  she  seemed  to  be  all  nature 
And  all  varieties  of  things  in  one: 
Would  set  at  night  in  clouds  of  tears,  and  rise 
All  light  and  laughter  in  the  morning :  fear 
No  petty  customs  nor  appearances, 
But  think  what  others  only  dreamed  about, 
And  say  what  others  did  but  think,  and  do 
What  others  would  but  say,  and  glory  in 
What  others  dared  but  do ;    so  pure  withal 
In  soul,  in  heart  and  act  such  conscious,  yet 
Such  careless  innocence,  she  made  round  her 
A  halo  of  delight ;  'twas  these  which  won  me ;  — 
And  that  she  never  schooled  within  her  breast 
One  thought  or  feeling,  but  gave  holiday 
To  all ;    and  that  she  made  all  even  mine 
In  the  communion  of  love:  and  we 
Grew  like  each  other,  for  we  loved  each  other  — 
She,  mild  and  generous  as  the  sun  in  spring ; 


50  FESTUS. 

And  I,  like  earth  all  budding  out  with  love. 

Lucifer.      iVnd    then,    love's    old    end,    falsehood 
nothing  worse 
I  hope? 

Festus.     What's  worse  than  falsehood]    to  deny 
The  god  which  is  within  us,  and  in  all 
Is  love  ]     Love  hath  as  many  vanities 
As  charms ;  and  this,  perchance,  the  chief  of  both : 
To  make  our  young  heart's  track  upon  the  first. 
And  snowlike  fall  of  feeling  which  overspreads 
The  bosom  of  the  youthful  maiden's  mind, 
More  pure  and  fair  than  even  its  outward  type. 
If  one  did  thus,  was  it  from  vanity  ? 
Or  thoughtlessness,  or  worse  ]     Nay,  let  it  pass. 
The  beautiful  are  never  desolate ; 
But  some  one  alway  loves  them  —  God  or  man. 
If  man  abandons,  God  himself  takes  them. 
And  thus  it  was.     She  whom  I  once  loved  died. 
The  lightning  loathes  its  cloud  —  the  soul  its  clay. 
Can  I  forget  that  hand  I  took  in  mine. 
Pale  as  pale  violets  ;  that  eye,  where  mind 
And  matter  met  alike  divine  1   ah,  no  ! 
May  God  that  moment  judge  me  when  I  do  : 
Oh!   she  was  fair:   her  nature  once  all  spring, 
And  deadly  beauty  like  a  maiden  sword ; 
Startlingly  beautiful.     I  see  her  now ! 
Whatever  thou  art,  thy  soul  is  in  my  mind  ; 
Thy  shadow  hourly  lengthens  o'er  my  brain, 
And  peoples  all  its  pictures  with  thyself 


FESTUS.  51 

Gone,  not  forgot  —  passed,  not  lost  —  thou  shalt  shine 
In  Heaven  like  a  bright  spot  in  the  sun  ! 
She  said  she  wished  to  die,  and  so  she  died ; 
For,  cloudlike,  she  poured  out  her  love,  which  was 
Her  life,  to  freshen  this  parched  heart.     It  was  thus : 
I  said  we  were  to  part,  but  she  said  nothing. 
There  was  no  discord  —  it  was  music  ceased  — 
Life's  thrilling,  bounding,  bursting  joy.     She  sate 
Like  a  house-god,  her  hands  fixed  on  her  knee  ; 
And  her  dark  hau*  lay  loose  and  long  around  her, 
Through  which  her  wild  bright  eye  flashed  like  a  flint. 
She  spake  not,  moved  not,  but  she  looked  the  more, 
As  if  her  eye  were  action,  speech  and  feeling. 
I  felt  it  all ;    and  came  and  knelt  beside  her. 
The  electric  touch  solved  both  our  souls  together. 
Then  comes  the  feeling  which  unmakes,  undoes ; 
Which  tears  the  sealike  soul  up  by  the  roots 
And  lashes  it  in  scorn  against  the  skies. 
Twice  did  I  madly  swear  to  God,  hand  clenched. 
That  not  even  He  nor  death  should  tear  her  from  me. 
It  is  the  saddest  and  the  sorest  sight 
One's  own  love  weeping;  —  but  why  call  on  God, 
But  that  the  feeling  of  the  boundless  bounds 
All  feeling,  as  the  welkin  doth  the  world  ] 
It  is  this  which  ones  us  with  the  whole  and  God. 
Then  first  we  wept ;   then  closed  and  clung  together ; 
And  my  heart  shook  this  building  of  my  breast. 
Like  a  live  engine  booming  up  and  down. 
She  fell  upon  me  like  a  snow-wreath  thawing. 


52  FESTUS. 

Never  were  bliss  and  beauty,  love  and  woe, 
Ravelled  and  twined  together  into  madness, 
As  in  that  one  wild  hour;  to  which  all  else, 
The  past,  is  but  a  picture  —  that  alone 
Is  real,  and  forever  there  in  front ; 
Making  a  black  blank  on  one  side  of  life 
Like  a  blind  eye.     But  after  that  I  left"  her:  . 
And  only  saw  her  once  again  alive. 
And  now  I  am  alone.     Say  on  !     What  more 
Can  tempt  save  union  of  love  with  death  ? 
But  yestereve  it  was  she  died,  and  now 
Scarce  hath  the  spirit  yet  aspired  to  Heaven. 
I  feel  it  hovering  round  me.     Let  mine  eyes 
But  realize  their  faith,  and  I  am  thine. 
The  soul  first,  then  the  body  and  the  grave 
Are  welcome  or  indifferent  as  may  be. 

Lucifer.     With   those  whom  Death  hath  drawn  I 
meddle  not. 
My  part  is  with  the  living  solely  here. 
I  have  not  told  the  half  I  will  do  for  thee. 
All  secrets  thou  shalt  ken  —  all  mysteries  construe  ; 
At  nothing  marvel.     All  the  veins  which  stretch, 
Unsearchable  by  human  eyes,  of  lore 
Most  precious,  most  profound,  to  thine  shall  bare 
And  vulgar  lie  like  dust.     The  world  within. 
The  world  above  thee,  and  the  dark  domain. 
Mine  own  thou  shalt  o'errule;    and  he  alone 
Who  rightly  can  esteem  such  high  delights, 
Tie  only  merits  —  he  alone  shall  have. 


F  EST  us.  53 

Festus.     And  if  I  have,  shall  I  be  happier? 
What  is  pleasure?     What,  happiness? 

Lucifer.  It  is  that 

I  vouchsafe  to  thee. 

Festus.  Am  I  tempted  thus 

Unto  my  fall? 

Lucifer.  God  wills  or  lets  it  be. 

How  thinkest  thou  ? 

Festus.  That  I  will  go  with  thee. 

Lucifer.     From  God  I  come. 

Festus.  I  do  believe  thee,  spirit. 

He  will  not  let  thee  harm  me.     Him  I  love, 
And  thee  I  fear  not.     I  obey  Him. 

Lucifer.  Good. 

Both  time  and  case  are  urgent.     Come  away. 

Festus.     Give  me  a  breathing-time  to  fortify, 
Within  myself,  the  promise  I  have  made. 

Lucifer.     Expect  me,  then,  at  midnight,  here,     lie- 
member, 
That  thou  canst  any  time  repent. 

Festus.  Ay,  true.     [Goes. 

Lucifer.     Repentance  never  yet  did  aught  on  earth ; 
It  undoes  many  good  things.     Of  all  men. 
Heaven  shield  me  from   the  wretch  who  can  repent ! 


54  FESTLS. 

Scene — Water  and  Wood — Midnight 

Festus,  alone. 

All  things  are  calm,  and  fair,  and  passive.     Earth 

Looks  as  if  lulled  upon  an  angel's  lap 

Into  a  breathless,  dewy  sleep :    so  still 

That  we  can  only  say  of  things,  they  be ! 

The  lakelet  now,  no  longer  vexed  with  gusts. 

Replaces  on  her  breast  the  pictured  moon   . 

Pearled  round  with  stars.     Sweet  imaged  scene  of  time 

To  come,  perchance,  when,  this  vain  life  o'er  spent. 

Earth  may  some  purer  beings'  presence  bear ; 

Mayhap  even  God  may  walk  among  His  saints, 

In  eminence  and  brightness  like  yon  moon. 

Mildly  outbeaming  all  the  beads  of  light 

Strung  o'er  night's  proud,  dark  brow.     How  strangely 

fair 
Yon  round,  still  star,  which  looks  half  suffering  from. 
And  half  rejoicing  in,  its  own  strong  fire  ; 
Making  itself  a  lonelihood  of  light. 
Like  Deity,  where'er  in  Heaven  it  dwells. 
How  can  the  beauty  of  material  things 
So  win  the  heart  and  work  upon  the  mind, 
Unless  like-natured  with  them  1     Are  great  things 
And  thoughts  of  the  same  blood  ]    They  have  like  eWect. 
Lucifer.     Why  doubt  on  mind  1    What  matter  how 

we  call 


FESTUS.  55 

That  which  all  feel  to  be  their  noblest  parti 
Even  spirits  have  a  better  and  a  worse : 
For  every  thing  created  must  have  form. 
Passions  they  have,  somewhat  like  thine ;    but  less 
Of  grossness  and  that  downwardness  of  soul 
Which  men  have.     It  is  true,  they  have  no  earth  ; 
For  what  they  live  on  is  above  themselves. 

Festus.      There    seems  a  sameness  among   things ; 
for  mind 
And  matter  speak,  in  causes,  of  one  God. 
The  inward  and  the  outward  worlds  are  like ; 
The  pure  and  gross  but  differ  in  degree. 
Tears,  feeling's  bright  embodied  form,  are  not 
More  pure  than  dew-drops.  Nature's  tears,  which  she 
Sheds  in  her  own  breast  for  the  fair  which  die. 
The  sun  insists  on  gladness ;    but  at  night. 
When  he  is  gone,  poor  Nature  loves  to  weep. 

Lucifer.     There  is  less  real  difference  among  things 
Than  men  imagine.     They  overlook  the  mass, 
But  fasten  each  on  some  particular  crum, 
Because  they  feel  that  they  can  equal  that, 
Of  doctrine,  or  belief,  or  party  cause. 

Festus.      That  is  the  madness  of  the  world  —  and 
that 
Would  I  remove. 

Lucifer.  It  is  imbecility. 

Not  madness. 

Festus.  Oh!  the  brave  and  good  who  serve 

A.  worthy  cause  can  only  one  way  fail ; 


56  FESTUS. 

By  perishing  therein.     Is  it  to  fail] 

No;  every  great  or  good  man's  death  is  a  step 

Firm  set  toward  their  end  —  the  end  of  being, 

Which  is  the  good  of  all  and  love  of  God. 

The  world  must  have  great  minds,  even  as  great  spheres 

Or  suns,  to  govern  lesser  restless  minds, 

"WTiile  they  stand  still  and  burn  with  life ;  to  keep 

Them  in  their  places,  and  to  light  and  heat  them. 

If  I  desire  immortal  life  for  aught, 

It  is  to  learn  the  mystery  of  mind 

And  somewhat  more  of  God.     Let  others  rule 

Systems  or  succor  saints,  if  such  things  please; 

To  live  like  light  or  die  in  light  like  dew. 

Either!   I  should  be  blest. 

Lucifer.  It  may  not  be. 

For  as  we  do  not  see  the  sun  himself. 
It  is  but  the  light  about  him,  like  a  ring 
Of  glory  round  the  forehead  of  a  saint,  so 
God  thou  wilt  never  see.     His  naked  love 
Is  terrible  ;   so  great  that  saints  dread  more 
To  be  forgiven  than  sinners  do  to  die. 

Festus.     Men  have  a  claim  on  God ;   and  none  who 
hath 
A  heart  of  kindness,  reverence,  and  love, 
But  dare  look  God  in  the  face  and  ask  His  smile. 
He  dwells  in  no  .fierce  light  —  no  cloud  of  flame ; 
And  if  it  were.  Faith's  eye  can  look  through  hell,' 
And  through  the  solid  world.     We  must  all  think 
On  God.     Yon  water  must  reflect  the  sky. 


FESTUS.  57 

Midnight!     Day  hath  too  much  of  light  for  us, 
To  see  things  spiritually.     Mind  and  Night 
Will  meet,  though  in  silence,  like  forbidden  lovers. 
With  whom  to  see  each  other's  sacred  form 
Must  satisfy.     The  stillness  of  deep  bliss, 
Sound  as  the  silence  of  the  high  hill-top 
Where  thunder  finds  no  echo  —  like  God's  voice 
Upon  the  worldling's  proud,  cold,  rocky  heart  — 
Fills  full  the  sky ;  and  the  eye  shares  with  Heaven 
That  look,  so  like  to  feeling,  which  the  bright 
And  glorious  things  of   Nature  ever  wear. 
There  is  much  to  think  and  feel  of  things  beyond 
This  earth;  which  lie,  as  we  deem,  upwards  —  far 
From  the  day's  glare  and  riot  —  they  are  Night's ! 
Oh !  could  we  lift  the  future's  sable  shroud  ! 

Lucifer.     Behind  a  shroud  what  shouldst  thou  see 
but  death] 

Festus.     Spirit  is  like  the  thread  whereon  are  strung 
The  beads  or  worlds  of  life.     It  may  be  here. 
It  may  be  there  that  I  shall  live  again; 
In  yon  strange  world  whose  long  nights  know  no  star, 
But  seven  fair  maidlike  moons  attending  him 
Perfect  his  sky  —  perchance  in  one  of  those  — 
But  live  again  I  shall,  wherever  it  be. 
We  long  to  learn  the  future  —  love  to  guess. 

Lucifer.     The  science  of  the  future  is  to  man, 
But  what  the  shadow  of  the  wind  might  be. 
Such  thoughts  are  vain  and  useless. 

Festus.  Forced  on  us. 


58  FESTUS. 

Lucifer.     All  things  are  of  necessity. 

Festus.  Then  best. 

But  the  good  are  never  fatalists.     The  bad 
Alone  act  by  necessity,  they  say. 

Lucifer.     It  matters  not  what  men  assume  to  be ; 
Or  good,  or  bad,  they  are  but  what  they  are. 

Festus.     What  is  necessity]     Are  we,  and  thou, 
And  all  the  worlds,  and  the  whole  infinite 
We  cannot  see,  but  working  out  God's  thoughts  ^ 
And  have  we  no  self-action  ]     Are  all  God  ^. 

Lucifer.     Then  hath  He  sin  and  all  absurdity. 

Festus.     Yet,  if  created  Being  have  free  wUl, 
Is  it  not  wrong  to  judge  it  may  traverse 
God's  own  high  will,  and  yet  impossible 
To  think  on't  otherwise  1 

Lucifer.  It  may  be  so. 

All  creature  wills,  and  all  their  ends  and  powers 
Must  come  within  the  boundless  scope  of  God's. 

Festus.     And  all  our  powers  are  but  weaknesses 
To  what  we  shall  have,  and  to  that  God  hath. 
Doth  not  the  wish,  too,  point  the  likelihood 
Of  life  to  come"?     . 

Lucifer.  Boys  wish  that  they  were  kings. 

And  so  with  thee.     A  deathless  spirit's  state, 
Freed  from  gross  form  and  bodily  weightiness. 
Seems  kingly  by  the  side  of  souls  like  thine. 
And  boys  and  men  will  likely  both  be  balked. 
What  if  it  be,  that  spirit,  after  death, 
Is  loosed  like  flesh  into  its  elements  ] 


FESTUS.  59 

The  worlds  which  man  hath  constellated  hold 
No  fellowship  in  nature;  nor  perchance 
As  he  hath  systematized  life,  mind  and  soul. 
But  sooth  to  say,  I  know  not  aught  of  this. 
I  have  no  kind.     No  nature  like  to  me 
Exists;  and  human  spirits  must  at  least 
Sleep  till  the  day  of  doom  —  if  it  ever  be. 

Festus.     Hast  never  known  one  free  from  body  1 

Lucifer.  None. 

Festus.     Why  seek  then  to  destroy  them'? 

Lucifer.  It  is  my  part. 

Let  ruin  bury  ruin.     Let  it  be 
Woe  here,  woe  there,  woe,  woe,  be  every  where! 
It  is  not  for  me  to  know,  nor  thee,  the  end 
Of  evil.     I  inflict,  and  thou  must  bear. 
The  arrow  knoweth  not  its  end  and  aim. 
And  I  keep  rushing,  ruining  along 
Like  a  great  river  rich  with  dead  men's  souls. 
For  if  I  knew,  I  might  rejoice ;   and  that 
To  me  by  Nature  is  forbidden.     I  know 
Nor  joy  nor  sorrow;  but  a  changeless  tone 
Of  sadness  like  the  night  wind's  is  the  strain 
Of  what  I  have  of  feeling.     I  am  not 
As  other  spirits,  —  but  a  solitude 
Even  to  myself;   I  the  sole  spirit  sole. 

Festus.     Can  none  of  thine  immortals  answer  mel 

Lucifer.     None,  mortal ! 

Festus.  Where,  then,  is  thy  vaunted  power '? 

Lucifer.     It  is  better  seen  as  thus  I  stand  apart 


^0  FESTUS. 

From  all.     Mortality  is  mine  —  the  green, 
Unripened  universe.     But  as  the  fruit 
Matures,  and  world  by  world  drops  mellowed  off 
The  wrinkling  stalk  of  Time,  as  thine  own  race 
Hath  seen  of  stars  now  vanished  —  all  is  hid 
From  me.     My  part  is  done.     What  after  comes 
I  know  not  more  than  thou. 

Festus.  Raise  me  a  spirit  I 

Awake,  ye  dead  !    out  with  the  secret,  death ! 
The  grave  hath  no  pride  nor  the  rise-again. 
Let  each  one  bring  the  bane  whereof  he  died. 
Bring  the  man  his,  the  maiden  hers !     Oh !  half 
Mankind  are  murderers  of  themselves  or  souls. 
Yea,  what  is  life  but  lingering  suicide  1 
Wake,  dead !     Ye  know  the  truth ;  yet  there  ye  lie 
All  mingling,  mouldering,  perishing  together 
Like  run  sand  in  the  hour-glass  of  old  Time. 
Death  is  the  mad  world's  asylum.     There  is  peace ; 
Destruction's  quiet  and  equality. 
(  Night  brings  out  stars  as  sorrow  shows  us  truths : 
Though  many,  yet  they  help  not ;   bright,  they  light 

not. 
They  are  too  late  to  serve  us :    and  sad  things 
Are  aye  too  true.     We  never  see  the  stars 
Till  we  can  see  nought  but  them.     So  with  truth. 
And  yet  if  one  would  look  down  a  deep  well. 
Even  at  noon,  we  might  see  those  same  stars 
Far  fairer  than  the  blinding  blue  —  the  truth. 
Probe  the  profound  of  thine  own  nature,  man; 


FESTUS.  61 

And  thou  mays' t  see  reflected,  e'en  in  life, 
The  worlds,  the  Heavens,  the  ages ;  by  and  by. 
The  coming  come.     Then  welcome,  world-eyed  Truth ! 
But  there  are  other  eyes  men  better  love 
Than  Truth's:  for  when  we  have  her  she  is  so  cold, 
And  proud,  we  know  not  what  to  do  with  her. 
We"* cannot  understand  her,  cannot  teach; 
She  makes  us  love  her,  but  she  loves  not  us  ; 
And  quits  us  as  she  came  and  looks  back  never. 
AVherefore  we  fly  to  Fiction's  warm  embrace, 
With  her  to  relax  and  bask  ourselves  at  ease ; 
And,  in  her  loving  and  unhindering  lap 
Voluptuously  lulled,  we  dream  at  most 
On  death  and  truth :  she  knows  them,  loves  them  not ; 
Therefore  we  hate  them  and  deny  them  both. 
Call  up  the  dead ! 

Lucifer.  Let  rest  while  rest  they  may  ! 

For  free  from  pain  and  from  this  world's  wear  and  tear 
It  may  be  a  relief  to  them  to  rot ; 
And  it  must  be  that  at  the  day  of  doom. 
If  mortals  should  take  up  immortal  life. 
They  will  curse  me  with  a  thunder  which  shall  shake 
The  sun  from  out  the  socket  of  his  sphere. 
The  curse  of  all  created.     Think  on  it! 

Festus.     Those  souls  thou  mean'st  whom  thou  hast 
ruined,  damned. 

Lucifer.     Nor   only  those ;    when  once  the  virgin 
bloom 
Of  soul  is  soiled  —  and  rudely  hath  my  hand 


62  FESTUS. 

Swept  o'er  the  swelling  clusters  of  all  life  — 
Little  it  matters  whether  crushed  or  touched 
Scarcely:  each  speaks  the  spoiler  hath  been  there. 
The  saved,  the  lost,  shall  curse  me  both  alike: 
God  too  shall  curse  me,  and  I,  I,  myself 
That  curse  is  ever  greatening  —  quick  with  hell; 
The  coming  consummation  of  all  woe.  " 

Festus.     O  man,  be  happy !      Die   and    cease   for- 
ever ! 
Why  wear  we  not  the  shroud  alway,  that  robe 
Which  speaks  our  rank  on  earth,  our  privilege! 
To  know  I  have  a  deathless  soul,  I  would  lose  it. 

Lucifer.     Believest  thou  all  I  tell  thee  1 

Festus.  All,  I  do. 

Stringing  the  stars  at  random  round  her  head. 
Like  a  pearl  network,  there  she  sits  —  bright  night ! 
I  love  night  more  than  day — she  is  so  lovely. 
But  I  love  night  the  most  because  she  brings 
My  love  to  me  in  dreams  which  scarcely  lie ; 
Oh !  all  but  truth  and  lovelier  oft  than  truth  ! 
Let  me  have  dreams  like  these,  sweet  Night,  forever, 
When  I  shall  wake  no  more ;   an  endless  dream 
Of  love  and  holy  beauty  'mid  the  stars  ; 
And  earth   and   Heaven   for  me   may  share   between 

them 
The  rough  realities  of  other  bliss. 

Lucifer.     I  see  thy  heart,  and  I  will  grant  thy  wish. 
I  have  lied  to  thee.     I  have  command  over  spirits. 
I  have  beheld  them  bodUess  as  space. 


FESTUS.  63 

Whom  wilt  thou  that  I  call  ] 

Festus.  Mine  Angela! 

Lucifer.     There  is  an  Angel  ever  by  thine  hand 
What  seest  thou? 

Festus.  It  is  my  love  !     It  is  she ! 

My  glory !  spirit !  beauty,  let  me  touch  thee. 
Nay,  do  not  shrink  back :  well,  then,  I  am  wrong : 
Thou  didst  not  use  to  shrink  from  me,  my  love. 
Angela !  dost  thou  hear  me  1     Speak  to  me. 
And  thou  art  there  —  looking  alive  and  dead. 
Thy  beauty  is  then  incorruptible. 
I  thought  so,  oft  as  I  have  looked  on  thee. 
Thou  art  too  much  even  now  for  me  as  once. 
I  cannot  gather  what  I  raved  to  say ; 
Nor  why  I  had  thee  hither.     Stay,  sweet  sprite ! 
Dear  art  thou  to  me  now,  as  in  that  hour 
When  first  Love's  wave  of  feeling,  spray-like,  broke 
Into  bright  utterance,  and  we  said  we  loved. 
Yea,  but  I  must  come  to  thee.     Move  no  more ! 
Art  thou  in  death  or  Heaven,  or  from  the  stars ; 
Have  I  done  wrong  in  calling  for  thee  thus  1 
What  art  thou  1     Speak,  love ;  whisper  me  as  wont 
In  the  dear  times  gone  by  ;  or  durst  thou  not 
Unfold  the  mystery  of  thine  and  mine 
Own  being  1     Was  it  Death  who  hushed  thy  lips  1 
Is  his  cold  finger  there  still '?     Let  me  come ! 
She  is  not! 

Lucifer.      And  thou  canst  not  bring  her  back. 

Festus.     I  will  not,  cannot  be  without  her.    Call  her. 


64  FESTUS. 

Lucifer.     I  call  on  spirits,  and  I  make  them  come . 
But  they  depart  according  to  their  own  will. 
Another  time  and  she  shall  speak  with  thee  — 
Ere  long  —  and  she  shall  show  thee  where  she  dwells, 
And  how  doth  pass  her  immortality ;  — 
If  lengthening  decay  can  so  be  called. 
Can  lines  finite  one  way  be  infinite 
Another?     And  yet  such  is  deathlessness. 

Festus.     It  is  hard  to  deem  that  spirits  cease,  that 
thought 
And  feeling,  flesh-like,  .perish  in  the  dust. 
Shall  we  know  those  again  in  a  future  state 
Whom  we  have  known  and  loved  on  earth  1     Say  yes ! 

Lucifer.     The  mind  hath  features  as  the  body  hath. 

Festus.     But  is  it  mind  which  shall  rerise  1 

Lucifer.  Man  were 

Not  man  without  the  mind  he  had  in  life. 

Festus.     Shall  all  defects  of  mind  and  fallacies 
Of  feeling  be  immortalized'?  all  needs. 
All  joys,  all  sorrows,  be  again  gone  through. 
Before  the  final  crisis  be  imposed  ? 
Shall  Heaven  but  be  old  earth  created  new  1 
Or  earth,  treelike,  transplanted  into  Heaven, 
To  flourish  by  the  waters  of  all  life, 
And  we  within  its  shade,  as  heretofore. 
Cropping  its  fruit,  with  life-seeds  cored  at  heart  ? 

Lucifer.     Man's  nature,  physical  and  psychical, 
Will  be  together  raised,  changed,  glorified ; 
And  all  shall  be  alike,  like  God ;  and  all 


FESTUS.  65 

Unlike  each  other  and  themselves.     The  earth 
Shall  vanish  from  the  thoughts  of  those  she  bore, 
As  have  the  idols  of  the  olden  time 
From  men's  hearts  of  the  present.     All  delight 
And  all  desire  shall  be  with  heavenly  things, 
And  the  new  nature  God  bestowed  on  man. 

Festus.     Then  man  shall  be  no  more  man,  but  an 
angel. 

Lucifer.     When  he  is  dead  and  buried,  what  re- 
mains, — 
That  such  an  obscure,  contradictory  thing 
Should  be  perpetuated  any  where'? 

Festus.     Oh !    if   God    hates   the   flesh,  why  made 
He  it 
So  beautiful  that  e'en  its  semblance  maddens "? 
Am  I  to  credit  what  I  think  I  have  seen] 
Or  am  I  suflering  some  deceit  of  thine  ] 

Lucifer.     I  am  explaining,  not  deluding. 

Festus.  True. 

Defining  night  by  darkness,  death  by  dust. 
I  run  the  gantlet  of  a  file  of  doubts, 
Each  one  of  which  down  hurls  me  to  the  ground. 
I  ask  a  hundred  reasons  what  they  mean. 
And  every  one  points  gravely  to  the  ground 
With  one  hand,  and  to  Heaven  with  the  other. 
In  vain  I  shut  mine  eyes.     Truth's  burning  beam 
Forces  them  open,  and  when  open,  blinds  them. 

Lucifer.     Doubly  unhappy! 

Festus.  I  am  too  unhapj)y 

9  F* 


66  FESTUS. 

To  die;  as  some  too  way-worn  cannot  sleep. 

Planets  and  suns,  that  set  themselves  on  fire 

By  their  own  rapid  self-revolvements,  are 

But  like  some  hearts.     Existence  I  despise. 

The  shape  of  man  is  wearisome ;  a  bird's  — 

A    worm's  —  a    whirlwind's  —  I    would    change   with 

aught. 
Time!  dash  thine  hour-glass  down.     Have  done  with 

this! 
The  course  of  Nature  seems  a  course  of  Death, 
And  nothingness  the  sole  substantial  thing. 

Lucifer.     Corruption   springs  from  light :    'tis    the 

same  power 
Creates,  preserves,  destroys:  the  matter  which 
It  works  on,  being  one  ever-changing  form, — 
The  living,  and  the  dying,  and  the  dead. 

Festus.     I'll   not    believe    a    thing    which    I    have 

known. 
Hell  was  made  hell  for  me,  and  I  am  mad. 

Lucifer.     True  venom  churns  the  froth  out  of  the 

lips ; 
It  works,  and  works  like  any  water-wheel. 
And  she,  then,  was  the  maiden  of  thy  heart. 
Well,  I  have  promised.     Ye  shall  meet  again. 
Now,  shall  we  go  1 

Festus.  This  moment.     I  am  ready. 

Farewell  ye  dear  old  walks  and  trees !  farewell 
Ye  waters  !  I  have  loved  ye  well.     In  youth 
And  childhood  it  hath  been  my  life  to  drift 


FESTUS.  67 

Across  ye  lightly  as  a  leaf;   or  skim 

Your  waves  in  yon  skiff,  swallowlike ;  or  lie . 

Like  a  loved  locket  on  your  sunny  bosom. 

Could  I,  like  you,  by  looking  in  myself 

Find  mine  own  Heaven  —  farewell !  Immortal  come ! 

The  morning  peeps  her  blue  eye  on  the  east. 

Lucifer.     Think  not  so  fondly  as  thy  foolish  race, 
Imagining  a  Heaven  from  things  without ; 
The  picture  on  the  passing  wave  call  Heaven  — 
The  wavelet,  life  —  the  sands  beneath  it,  death; 
Daily  more  seen,  till,  lo !  the  bed  is  bare. 
This  fancy  fools  the  world. 

Festus.  Let  us  away! 


Scene — A  Mountain  —  Sunrise, 

Festus  and  Lucifer. 

Festus.     Hail,  beauteous  Earth  !     Gazing  o'er  thee, 
I  all 
Forget  the  bounds  of  being ;   and  I  long 
To  fill  thee,  as  a  lover  pines  to  blend 
Soul,  passion,  yea,  existence,  with  the  fair 
Creature  he  calls  his  own.     I  ask  for  nought 
Before  or  after  death  but  this,  —  to  lie, 
And  look,  and  live,  and  bask,  and  bless  myself 
Upon  thy  broad,  bright  bosom.     From  thee  I 
Sprang,  and  to  thee  I  turn,  heart,  arm,  and  brain. 


68  FESTUS. 

Yes,  I  am  all  thine  own.     Thou  art  the  sole 
Parent.  .  To  rock  and  river,  plain  and  wood, 
I  cry,  ye  are  my  kin.     While  I,  O  Earth  ! 
Am  but  an  atom  of  thee,  and  a  breath. 
Passing  unseen  and  unrecorded,  like 
The  tiny  throb  here  in  my  temple's  pulse. 
Thou  art  forever  and  the  sacred  bride 
Of  Heaven,  —  worthy  the  passion  of  our  God, 
Oh !  full  of  light,  love,  grace !  —  the  grace  of  all 
Who  owe  to  thee  their  life ;    thy  Maker's  love ; 
His  face's  light.     All  thine  rejoice  in  thee ; 
Thou  in  thyself  for  aye  ;   rolling  through  air 
As  seraphs'  song  out  of  their  trumpet  lips 
KoUs  round  the  skies  of  Heaven.     See  the  sun  ! 
God's  crest  upon  His  azure  shield  the  Heavens. 
Canst  thou,  a  spirit,  look  upon  him  1 

Lucifer.  Ay. 

I  led  him  from  the  void,  where  he  was  wrought. 
By  this  right  hand,  up  to  the  glorious  seat 
His  brightness  overshadows ;  built  his  throne 
On  piles  of  gold,  and  laid  his  chambers  on 
Beams  of  gold ;  wrapped  a  veil  of  fire  around 
His  face,  and  bade  him  reign  and  burn  like  me. 
There,  ever  since,  sat  warming  into  life 
These  worlds  as  in  a  nest,  he  has  and  is. 
But  fall  he  must.     I  have  done,  do,  nought  else 
From  my  first  thought  to  this,  and  to  my  last. 
No  matter ;    it  is  beneath  this  mind  of  mine 
To  reck  of  aught.     I  bear,  have  borne,  the  ill 


FESTUS.  69 

Of  ages,  of  eternities  —  and  must. 

I  care  not.     I  shall  sway  the  world  as  now, 

Which  worse  and  worse  sinks  with  me  as  I  sink. 

Till  finite  souls  evanish  as  a  vapor; 

Till  immortality,  the  proud  thing,  perish  ; 

And  God  alone  be  and  eternity. 

Then  will  I  clap  my  hands  and  cry  to  Him, 

I  have  done !     Have  Thy  will  now !      There  is  none 

but  Thee. 
I  am  the  first  created  being.     I 
Will  be  the  last  to  perish  and  to  die. 

Festus.     Thou    art    a    fit    monitor,    methinks,    of 
pleasure. 

Lucifer.     To  the  high  air  sunshine  and  cloud  are 
one ; 
Pleasure  and  pain  to  me.     Thou  and  the  earth 
Alone  feel  these  as  difierent  —  for  ye 
Are  under  them  —  the  Heavens  and  I  above. 

Festus.     But   tell   me,  have  ye  scenes  like  this  in 
hell  ] 

Lucifer.     Nay,  nor  in  Heaven. 

Festus.  What  is  Heaven]  not  the  toys 

Of  singing,  love,  and  music  ]     Such  a  place 
Were  fit  for  women  only. 

Lucifer.  Heaven  is  no  place; 

Unless  it  be  a  place  with  God,  allwhere. 
It  is  the  being  good  —  the  knowing  God  — 
The  consciousness  of  happiness  and  power ; 
With  knowledge  which  no  spirit  e'er  can  lose 


70  FESTUS. 

But  doth  increase  in  every  state ;  and  aught 

It  most  delights  in  the  fidl  leave  to  do. 

But  why  consume  me  with  such  questions  1     Why 

Add  earth  to  hell,  in  the  great  chain  of  worlds 

Which  God  in  wrath  hath  bound  about  me] 

Festus.  W^hy ! 

'Twas  therefore  that  I  closed  with  thee,  great  Fiend ! 
That  thou  might' st  answer  all  things  I  proposed, 
Or  bring  me  those  who  would  do. 

Lucifer.  All  these  things 

Thou  wilt  know  sometime,  when  to  see  and  know 
Are  one ;  to  see  a  thing  and  comprehend 
The  nature  of  it  essentially;  perceive 
The  reason  and  the  science  of  its  being. 
And  the  relations  with  the  universe 
Of  al]  things  actual  or  possible. 
Mortal,  immortal,  spiritual,  gross. 
This,  when  the  spirit  is  made  free  of  Heaven, 
Is  the  divine  result ;  proportioned  still 
To  the  intelligence  as  human ;  for 
There  are  degrees  in  Heaven  as  every  thing, 
By  God's  will.     Unimaginable  space 
As  full  of  suns  as  is  earth's  sun  of  atoms, 
Faileth  to  match  His  boundless  variousness  ; 
And  ever  must  do,  though  a  thousand  worlds, 
As  diverse  from  each  other  as  is  thine 
From  any  of  thy  systems,  were  elanced 
Each  minute  into  life  unendingly. 
All  of  yon  worlds,  and  all  who  dwell  in  them, 


FESTUS.  71 

Stand  in  diverse  degrees  of  bliss  and  being. 

Through  the  ten  thousand  times  ten  thousandth  grade 

Of  blessedness,  above  this  world's  and  man's 

Ability  to  feel  or  to  conceive, 

The  soul  may  pass  and  yet  know  nought  of  Heaven, 

More  than  a  dim  and  miniature  reflection 

Of  its  most  bright  infinity  ;  —  for  God 

Makes  to  each  spirit  its  peculiar  Heaven ;  — 

And  yet  is  Heaven  a  bright  reality. 

As  this  or  any  of  yon  worlds ;   a  state 

Where  all  is  loveliness,  and  power,  and  love ; 

Where  all  sublimest  qualities  of  mind 

Not  infinite  are  limited  alone 

By  the  surrounding  Godhood,  and  where  nought 

But  what  produceth  glory  and  delight 

To  creature  and  Creator  is  ;   where  all 

Enjoy  entire  dominion  o'er  themselves. 

Acts,  feelings,  thoughts,  conditions,  qualities. 

Spirit,  and  soul,  and  mind ;    all  under  God, 

For  spirit  is  soul  deified ;  —  while  earth. 

To  the  immortal  vast,  God-natured  Spirit, 

Is  but  a  spell,  which,  having  served  to  light 

A  lamp,  is  cast  into  consuming  fire. 

Festus.     And   Hell]      Is  it  nought   but  pits,  and 
chains,  and  flames  1 

Lucifer.     An  ever  greatening  sense  of  ill  and  woe, 
Aye  crushmg  down  the  soul,  but  filling  never 
Its  infinite  capacity  of  pain. 

Festus.     But  human  nature  is  not  infinite, 


72  FESTUS. 

And  therefore  cannot  suffer  endlessly. 

Lucifer.     God  may  create  in   time  what  shall  en- 
dure 
Unto  eternity.     With  Him  is  no 
Distinction,  nor  in  that  which  is  of  Him. 

Festus.     Then   is   not  soul  of  God,  but   man   and 
earth. 
Soul  when  made  spirit  is  of  earth  no  more, 
Nor  time,  but  of  eternity  and  Heaven. 
It  is  but  when  in  the  body,  and  bent  down 
To  worldly  ends,  that  human  souls  become 
Objects  of  time,  as  most  are,  till  the  hour 
Comes  when  the  soul  of  man  shall  be  made  one 
With  God's  spirit ;    and  where  shall  woe  be  then  ] 
Where,  sin?  where,  suffering'?  when  the  mortal  soul 
Shall  be  divinized  and  eternized  by 
God's  very  spirit  put  upon  itl 

Lucifer.  How 

Can  souls  begotten  to  predestined  doom. 
From  and  before  all  worlds,  be  deemed  of  earth  I 

Festus.     Things  spiritual,  as  belonging  God, 
Are  known  unto  Him,  and  predestined  from 
Eternity,  nor  these  alone ;    but  flesh 
Forms  not,  nor  does  it  need  the  care  of  Fate. 

Lucifer.     The  object  of  eternal  knowledge  must 
Have  like  existence. 

Festus.  Then  it  cannot  be 

Bound  unto  torment ;   that  would  be  to  bring 
Torture  on  godlike  essence. 


FESTUS.  73 

Lucifer.  Hast  not  heard, 

How  thine  existence  here,  on  earth,  is  but 
The  dark  and  narrow  section  of  a  life 
Which  was  with  God,  long  ere  the  sun  was  lit, 
And  shall  be  yet,  when  all  the  bold  bright  stars 
Are  dark  as  death-dust  —  Immortality 
And  Wisdom  tending  thee  on  either  hand. 
Thy  divine  sisters'?     But  do  thou  believe 
E'en  what  thou  wilt.     It  matters  not  to  me. 

Festus.     Is  it  the  nature  or  the  deed  of  God 
To  render  finite  follies  infinite. 
Or  to  eternize  sin  and  death  in  fire  ] 
For  so  long  as  the  punishment  endures. 
The  crime  lasts.     Were  it  not  for  thy  presence, 
Spirit !  I  would  not  deem  hell  were. 

Lucifer.  Let  not 

My  presence  pass  for  more  than  it  is  worth, 
I  pray,  nor  yet  my  absence.     Trust  me,  I 
Could  wish,  with  thee,  that  hell  were  blotted  out 
Of  utmost  space.     'Tis  man  himself  aye  makes 
His  own  God  and  his  hell.     But  this  is  truth. 

Festus.     The  truth  is  perilous  never  to  the  true, 
Nor  knowledge  to  the  wise  ;    and  to  the  fool. 
And  to  the  false,  error  and  truth  alike. 
Error  is  worse  than  ignorance.     But  say. — 
How  can  eternal  punishment  be  due 
To  temporal  ofiences,  to  a  pulse 
Of  momentary  madness  ? 

Lucifer.  Pardon  me. 

10  O 


74  FESTUS. 

Sin  is  not  temporary.     Nothing  is, 

Of  spiritual  nature,  but  hath  cause 

Immortal  and  immortal  end  in  all, 

As  spirits.     Therefore,  till  the  soul  shall  be 

By  grace  redeiiied,  as  is  the  soul. 

So  is  the  sin,  forever  before  God. 

Festus.     Sin  is  not  of  the  spirit,  but  of  that 
Which  blindeth  spirit,  heart,  and  brain. 

Lucifer.  Believe  so. 

The  law  of  all  the  worlds  is  retribution. 

Festus.     But  is  it  so  of  God] 

Lucifer.  The  laws  of  Heaven 

Are  not  of  earth  ;   there,  law  is  liberty. 

Festus.     Thou  thunder-cloud  of  spirits,  darkening 
The  skies  and  wrecking  earth !     Could  I  hate  men, 
HoAv  I  should  joy  with  thee,  even  as  an  eagle. 
Nigh  famished,  in  the  fellowship  of  storms  ; 
But  I  still  love  them.     What  will  come  of  men  ] 

Lucifer.     AVhatever  may,  perdition  is  their  meed. 
Were  Heaven  dispeopled  for  a  ministry 
To  warn  them  of  their  ways ;   were  thou  and  I 
To  monish  them;  were  Heaven,  and  Earth,  and  11(41 
To  preach  at  once,  they  still  would  mock  and  jeer 
As  now ;  but  never  repent  until  too  late ; 
Until  the  everlasting  hour  had  struck. 

Festus.     Men  might  be  better  if  we  better  deemed 
Of  them.     The  worst  way  to  improve  the  woiid 
Is  to  condemn  it.     Men  may  overget 
Delusion  —  not  despair. 


FESTUS.  '75 

Lucifer.  Why  love  mankind? 

The  affections  are  thy  system's  weaknesses ; 
The  wasteful  outlets  of  self-maintenance. 

Festus.     The  wild  flower's  tendril,  proof  of  feeble- 
ness, 
Proves  strength ;  and  so  we  fling  our  feelings  out, 
The  tendrils  of  the  heart,  to  bear  us  up. 
O  Earth  !   how  drear  to  think  to  tear  one  self. 
Even  for  an  hour,  from  looks  like  this  of  thine ; 
From  features,  Oh !  so  fair ;   to  quit  for  aye 
The  luxury  of  thy  side.     Why,  why  art  thou 
Thus  glorious,  and  'twere  not  to  sate  the  soul. 
And  chide  us  for  the  senseless  dream  of  Heaven  ] 
The  still,  strong  stream  sweeps  onward  to  its  end, 
Like  one  of  the  great  purposes  of  God ; 
Or  like,  may  be,  a  soul  like  mine  to  Him. 
Along  yon  deep  blue  vein  upon  thy  bosom, 
Earth  !  I  could  float  forever.     See  it  there  — 
Winding  among  its  green  and  smiling  isles, 
Like  Charity  amidst  her  children  dear ; 
Or  Peace,  rejoicing  in  her  olive  wreaths. 
And  gladdening  as  she  glides  along  the  lands. 

Lucifer.     And  yet  all  this  must  end  —  must  pass ; 
drop  down 
Oblivion  like  a  pebble  in  a  pit: 
For  God  shall  lay  His  hand  upon  the  earth. 
And  crush  it  up  like  a  red  leaf. 

Festus.  Not  hel 

T  cannot  root  the  thought,  nor  hold  it  firm. 


76  '  FESTUS. 

Lucifer.      This    same     sweet    world    which    thou 
wouldst  fondly  deem 
Eternal,  may  be;   which  I  soon  shall  see 
Destruction  suck  back  as  the  tide  a  shell. 

Festus.     It  will  not  be  yet.     I'll  w^oo  thee,  world, 
again. 
And  revel  in  thy  loveliness  and  love. 
I  have  a  heart  with  room  for  every  joy: 
And  since  we  must  part  sometime,  w^hile  I  may, 
I'll  quaff  the  nectar  in  thy  flowers,  and  press 
The  richest  clusters  of  thy  luscious  fruit 
Into  the  cup  of  my  desires.     I  know 
My  years  are  numbered  not  in  units  yet. 
But  I  cannot  live  unless  I  love  and  am  loved ; 
Unless  I  have  the  young  and  beautiful 
Bound  up  like  pictures  in  my  book  of  life. 
It  is  the  intensest  vanity  alone 

Which  makes  us  bear  with  life.     Some  seem  to  live, 
Whose  hearts  are  like  those  unenlightened  stars 
Of  the  first  darkness  —  lifeless,  timeless,  useless  — 
With  nothing  but  a  cold  night  air  about  them  ; 
Not  suns  —  not  planets  —  darkness  organized  : 
Orbs  of  a  desert  darkness :  with  no  soul  • 
To  light  its  watchfire  in  the  wilderness, 
And  civilize  the  solitude  one  moment. 
There  are  such  seemingly;  but  how  or  why         ^ 
They  live  I  know  not.     This  to  me  is  life : 
That  if  life  be  a  burden,  I  will  join 
To  make  it  but  the  burden  of  a  song: 


b 


FESTUS.  .  77 

1  hate  the  world's  coarse  thought.     And  this  is  life; 
To  watch  young  beauty's  budlike  feelings  burst 
And  load  the  soul  with  love  ;  —  as  that  pale  flower 
Which  opes  at  eve,  spreads  sudden  on  the  dark 
Its  yellow  bloom,  and  sinks  the  air  down  with  sweets. 
Let  Heaven  take  all  that's  good  —  Hell  all  that's  foul; 
Leave  us  the  lovely !  and  we  will  ask  no  more. 

Lucifer.     To    me    it    seems    time   all    should  end. 
The  sky 
Grows  gray.     It  is  not  so  bright  nor  blue  as  once. 
Well  I  remember,  as  it  were  yesterday, 
^^Hien  Earth  and  Heaven  went  happy,  hand  in  hand, 
With  all  the  morning  dew  of  youth  about  them ; 
With  the  bright  unworldly  hearts  of  youth  and  truth 
And  the  maiden  bosoms  of  the  beautiful :  — 
Ere  earth  sinned,  or  the  pure  indignant  Heavens 
Retreated  high,  nigh  God ;   when  earth  was  all 
A  creeping  mass,  alive  with  shapeless  things: 
And  when  there  were  but  three  things  in  the  world  — 
Monsters,  mountains,  and  water :  before  age 
Had  thickened  the  eyes  of  stars  ;    and  while  the  sea, 
llejoicing  like  a  ring  of  saints  round  God, 
Or  Heaven  on  Heaven  about  some  newborn  sun, 
In  its  sublime  same-soundingness,  laughed  out 
And  cried  not  I !     Like  God,  I  never  rest. 

Festus.     God  hath  his  rest ;    Earth  hers.     Let  me 
have  mine. 
Yet  must  I  look  on  thee,  fair  scene,  again, 
Ere  I  depart.     The  glory  of  the  world 


lO  FESTUS. 

Is  on  all  hands.     In  one  encircling  ken, 

1  gaze  on  river,  sea,  isle,  continent. 

Mountain,  and  wood,  and  wild,  and  fire-lipped  hill. 

And  lake,  and  golden  plain,  and  sun,  and  Heaven, 

Where  the  stars  brightly  die,  whose  death  is  day. 

City,  and  port,  and  palace,  ships  and  tents. 

Lie  massed  and  mapped  before  me.     All  is  here. 

The  elements  of  the  world  are  at  my  feet. 

Above  me  and  about  me.     Now  would  I 

Be  and  do  somewhat  beside  that  I  am. 

Canst  thou  not  give  me  some  ethereal  slave. 

Of  the  pure  essence  of  an  element  — 

Such  as  my  bondless  brain  hath  ofttimes  drawn 

In  the  divine  insanity  of  dreams  — 

To  stand  before  me  and  obey  me,  spirit  ? 

Lucifer.     Call  out,  and  see  if  aught  arise  to  thee. 

Festus.     Green,  dewy  Earth,  who  standest  at  my  feet, 
kSinging  and  pouring  sunshine  on  thy  head, 
As  naiad  native  water,  speak  to  me! 
I  am  thy  son.     Canst  thou  not  now,  as  once, 
Bring  forth  some  being  dearer,  liker  to  thee 
Than  is  my  race,  —  Titan  or  tiny  fay. 
Stream-nymph,  or  wood-nymph  1     She  hath  ceased  to 

speak. 
Like  God,  except  in  thunder,  or  to  look 
Unless  in  lightning.     Miracles,  with  earth, 
Are  out  of  fashion,  as  with  Heaven. 

Lucifer.  *  More's 

The  pity.     Call  elsewhere.     Old  Earth  is  hard 
Of  hearing,  may  be. 


I 


FESTUS.  79 

Festus.  I  beseech  thee,  Sea! 

Tossing  thy  wavy  locks  in  sparkling  play, 
Like  to  a  child  awakening  with  the  light 
To  laughter.     Canst  not  thou  disgulf  for  me. 
From  thy  deep  bosom,  deep  as  Heaven  is  high. 
Of  all  thy  sea-gods  one,  or  sea-maids^ 

Lucifer.  None ! 

Festus.     I  half  despair.     Fire !  that  art  slumbering 
there. 
Like  some  stern  warrior  in  his  rocky  fort, 
After  the  vast  invasion  of  the  world. 
Hast  not  some  flaming  imp,  or  messenger 
Of  empyrean  element,  to  whom. 
In  virtue  of  his  nature,  are  both  known 
The  secrets  of  the  burning,  central,  void  below. 
And  yon  bright  Heaven,  out  of  whose  aery  fire 
Are  wrought  the  forms  of  angels  and  the  thrones? 
Hast  none  at  hand  to  do  my  bidding?     Come! 
Breathe  out  a  spirit  for  me !     One  I  ask 
That  shall  be  with  me  always,  as  a  friend. 
And  not  like  thee,  who  despotizest  o'er 
The  heart  thou  seek'st  to  serve.     I  must  be  free. 

Lucifer.     All  finite  souls  must  serve;  their  widest 
sway 
Is  but  the  rule  of  service.     This  fair  earth 
Which  thou  dost  boast  so  much  of,  why,  thou  see'st 
'Tis  but  the  party-colored,  scummy,  dross 
Of  the  original  element  wherefrom 
The  fiery  worlds  were  framed. 


80  FESTUS. 

Festus.  ^  Air !  and  thou,  Wind ! 

Which  art  the  unseen  similitude  of  God 
Tlie  Spirit,  His  most  meet  and  mightiest  sign  ; 
The  earth,  with  all  her  steadfastness  and  strength, 
Sii.*taining  all,  and  bound  about  with  chains 
Of  mountains,  as  is  life  with  mercies,  ranging  round 
With  all  her  sister  orbs  the  whole  of  Heaven, 
Is  not  so  like  the  unlikenable  One 
As  thou.     Ocean  is  less  divine  than  thee; 
For  although  all  but  limitless,  it  is  yet 
Visible,  many  a  land  not  visiting. 
But  thou  art,  lovelike,  every  where;  o'er  earth, 
O'er  ocean  triumphing,  and  aye  with  clouds, 
That  like  the  ghosts  of  ocean's  billows  roll. 
Decking  or  darkening  Heaven.      The  sun's  light 
Floweth  and  ebbeth  daily  like  the  tides ; 
The  moon's  doth  grow  or  lessen,  night  by  night ; 
The  stirless  stars  shine  forth  by  fits  and  hide. 
And  our  companion  planets  come  and  go  ;  — 
And  all  are  known,  their  laws  and  liberties. 
But  no  man  can  foreset  thy  coming,  none 
Reason  against  thy  going;  thou  art  free. 
The  type  impalpable  of  Spirit,  thou. 
Thunder  is  but  a  momentary  thing. 
Like  a  world's  deathrattle,  and  is  like  death ; 
And  lightning,  like  the  blaze  of  sin,  can  blind 
Only  and  slay.     But  what  are  these  to  thee. 
In  thine  all-present  variousness?     Now, 
So  light  as  not   to  wake  the  snowiest  down 


FESTUS.  81 

Upon  the  dove's  breast,  winning  l\er  bright  way 
Calm  and  sublime  as  Grace  unto  the  soul, 
Towards  her  far  native  grove ;  now,  stern  and  strong 
As  ordnance,  overturning  tree  and  tower ; 
Cooling  the  white  brows  of  the  peaks  of  fire, — 
Turning  the  sea's  broad  furrows  like  a  plough, — 
Fanning  the  fruitening  plains,  breathing  the  sweets 
Of  meadows,  wandering  o'er  blinding  snows, 
And  sands  like  sea-beds,  and  the  streets  of  cities, 
^Vhere  men  as  garnered  grain  lie  heaped  together ; 
Freshening  the  cheeks,  and  mingling  oft  the  locks 
Of  youth  and  beauty  'neath  star-speaking  eve ; 
Swelling  the  pride  of  canvas,  or,  in  wrath, 
Scattering  the  fleets  of  nations  like  dead  leaves: 
In  all,  the  same  o'ermastering  sightless  force, 
Bowing  the  highest  things  of  earth  to  earth. 
And  lifting  up  the  dust  unto  the  stars  ; 
Fate-like,  confounding  reason,  and  like  God's 
Spirit,  conferring  life  upon  the  world, — 
Midst  all  corruption  incorruptible ; 
Monarch  of  all  the  elements!  hast  thou 
No  soft  ^olian  sylph,  with  sightless  wing, 
To  spare  a  mortal  for  an  hour] 

Lucifer.  Peace,  peace! 

All  nature  knows  that  I  am  with  thee  here, 
And  that  thou  need'st  no  minor  minister. 
To  thee  I  personate  the  world  —  its  powers, 
Beliefs,  and  doubts,  and  practices. 

Festus.  Are  all 

Mine  invocations  fruitless,  then  1 


82  FESTCS. 

Lucifer.  .  They  are. 

Let  us  enjoy  the  world! 

Festus.  *  If  'twas  God's  will 

That  thou  shouldst  visit  me,  He  shall  not  send 
Temptation  to  my  heart  in  vain.     Sweet  world ! 
We  all  still  cling  to  thee.     Though  thou  thyself 
Passest  away,  yet  men  will  hanker  about  thee. 
Like  mad  ones  by  their  moping  haunts.     Men  pass, 
Cleaving  to  things  themselves  which  pass  away. 
Like  leaves  on  waves.      Thus  all  things  pass  forever, 
Save  mind  and  the  mind's  meed. 

Lucifer.  Let  us,  too,  pass ! 


Scene  —  A  Country  Town  —  Market-place  —  Noon. 
Lucifer  and  Festus. 

Lucifer.     These  be  the   toils  and  cares  of  mighty 
men! 
Earth's  vermin  are  as  fit  to  fill  her  thrones 
As  these  high  Heaven's  bright  seats. 

Festus.  Men's  callings  all 

Are  mean  and  vain  ;   their  wishes  more  so :    oft 
The  man  is  bettered  by  his  part  or  place. 
How  slight  a  chance  may  raise  or  sink  a  soul ! 

Lucifer.    What  men  call  accident  is  God's  own  part. 
He  lets  ye  work  your  will  —  it  is  His  own : 
But  that  ye  mean  not,  know  not,  do  not,  He  doth. 


FESTUS.  83 

Festus.     What  is  life  worth  without  a  heart  to  feel 
The  great  and  lovely,  and  the  poetry 
And  sacredness  of  things  ]   for  all  things  are 
Sacred,  —  the  eye  of  God  is  on  them  all. 
And  hallows  all  unto  it.     It  is  fine 
To  stand  upon  some  lofty  mountain  thought 
And  feel  the  spirit  stretch  into  a  view ; 
To  joy  in  what  might  be  if  will  and  power 
For  good  would  work  together  but  one  hour. 
Yet  millions  never  think  a  noble  thought : 
But  with  brute  hate  of  brightness  bay  a  mind 
Which  drives  the  darkness  out  of  them,  like  hounds. 
Throw  but  a  false  glare  round  them,  and  in  shoals 
They  rush  upon  perdition :    that's  the  race. 
What  charm  is  in  this  world-scene  to  such  minds 
Blinded  by  dust  ?     What  can  they  do  in  Heaven, 
A  state  of  spiritual  means  and  ends  1 
Thus  must  I  doubt  —  perpetually  doubt. 

Lucifer.     Who  never  doubted  never  half  believer.. 
Where  doubt,  there  truth  is  —  'tis  her  shadow.     I 
Declare  unto  thee  that  the  past  is  not. 
I  have  looked  over  all  life,  yet  never  seen 
The  age  that  had  been.     Why  then  fear  or  dream 
About  the  future  ]     Nothing  but  what  is,  is ; 
Else  God  were  not  the  Maker  that  He  seems, 
As  constant  in  creating  as  in  being. 
Embrace  the  present !     Let  the  future  pass. 
Plague  not  thyself  about  a  future.     That 
Only  which  comes  direct  from  God,  His  spirit, 


^4  FESTUS. 

Is  deathless.     Nature  gravitates  without 

Effort ;   and  so  all  mortal  natures  fall 

Deathwards.     All  aspiration  is  a  toil ; 

But  inspiration  cometh  from  above, 

And  is  no  labor.     The  earth's  inborn  strength 

Could  never  lift  her  up  to  yon  stars,  whence 

She  fell ;   nor  human  soul,  by  native  worth. 

Claim  Heaven  as  birthright,  more  than  man  may  call 

Cloudland  his  home.     The  souFs  inheritance. 

Its  birthplace,  and  its  deathplace,  is  of  earth, 

Until  God  maketh  earth  and  soul  anew ; 

The  one  like  Heaven,  the  other  like  Himself. 

So  shall  the  new  Creation  come  at  once ; 

Sin,  the  dead  branch  upon  the  tree  of  Life, 

Shall  be  cut  off  forever ;   and  all  souls 

Concluded  in  God's  boundless  amnesty. 

Festus.     Thou  windest  and  unwindest  faith  at  will. 
What  am  I  to  believe  ] 

Lucifer.  Thou  mayst  believe 

But  that  which  thou  art  forced  to. 

Festus.  Then  I  feel 

That  instinct  of  immortal  life  in  me. 
Which  prompts  me  to  provide  for  it. 

Lj,uciFER.  Perhaps. 

Festus.     Man    hath    a    knowledge    of   a    time    to 
come  — 
His  most  important  knowledge:    the  weight  lies 
Nearest  the  short  end:    and  the  world  depends 
Upon  what  is  to  be.     I  would  deny 


FESTUS.  85 

The  present,  if  the  future.     Oh  !    there  is 
A  life  to  come,  or  all's  a  dream. 

Lucifer.  And  all 

May  be  a  dream.     Thou  seest  in  thine,  men,  deeds, 
Clear,  moving,  full  of  speech  and  order ;  then 
Why  may  not  all  this  world  be  but  a  dream 
Of  God's  ]      Fear    not !      Some    morning    God    may 
waken. 

Festus.     I  would  it  were.     This  life's  a  mystery. 
The  value  of  a  thought  cannot  be  told; 
But  it  is  clearly  worth  a  thousand  lives 
Like  many  men's.     And  yet  men  love  to  live 
As  if  mere  life  were  worth  their  living  for. 
What  but  perdition  will  it  be  to  most? 
Life's  more  than  breath  and  the  quick  round  of  blood : 
It  is  a  great  spirit  and  a  busy  heart. 
The  coward  and  the  small  in  soul  scarce  do  live. 
One  generous  feeling  —  one  great  thought  —  one  deed 
Of  good,  ere  night,  would  make  life  longer  seem 
Than  if  each  year  might  number  a  thousand  days,  — 
Spent  as  is  this  by  nations  of  mankind. 
We  live  in  deeds,  not  years  ;  in  thoughts,  not  breaths  ; 
In  feelings,  not  in  figures  on  a  dial. 
We  should  count  time  by  heart-throbs.     He  most  lives 
Who  thinks  most  —  feels  the  noblest  —  acts  the  best. 
Life's  but  a  means  unto  an  end — that  end, 
Beginning,  mean  and  end  to  all  things  —  God. 
The  dead  have  til  the  glory  of  the  world. 
Why  will  we  live  and  not  be  glorious  ? 


86  FESTUS. 

We  never  can  be  deathless  till  we  die. 

It  is  the  dead  win  battles.     And  the  breath 

Of  those  who  through  the  world  drive  like  a  wedge, 

Tearing  earth's  empires  up,  nears  Death  so  close 

It  dims  his  well-worn  scythe.     But  no !  the  brave 

Die  never.     Being  deathless,  they  but  change 

Their  country's  arms  for  more  —  their  country's  heart. 

Give  then  the  dead  their  due  ;  it  is  they  who  saved  us. 

The  rapid  and  the  deep  —  the  fall,  the  gulf, 

Have  likenesses  in  feeling  and  in  life. 

And  life,  so  varied,  hath  more  loveliness 

In  one  day  than  a  creeping  century 

Of  sameness.     But  youth  loves  and  lives  on  change 

Till  the  soul  sighs  for  sameness ;  which  at  last 

Becomes  variety,  and  takes  its  place. 

Yet  some  will  last  to  die  out  thought  by  thought, 

And  power  by  power,  and  limb  of  mind  by  limb. 

Like  lamps  upon  a  gay  device  of  glass, 

Till  all  of  soul  that's  left  be  dry  and  dark ; 

Till  even  the  burden  of  some  ninety  years 

Hath  crashed  into  them  like  a  rock;   shattered 

Their  system  as  if  ninety  suns  had  rushed 

To  ruin  earth  —  or  Heaven  had  rained  its  stars  ; 

Till  they  become,  like  scrolls,  unreadable 

Through  dust  and  mould.     Can  they  be  cleaned  and 

read  1 
Do  human  spirits  wax  and  wane  like  moons'? 

Lucifer.     The  eye  dims,  and  the  h^^art  gets  old  and 

slow ; 


I 


FESTUS.  87 

The  lithe  limb  stiffens,  and  the  sun-hued  locks 
Thin  themselves  off,  or  whitely  wither ;  —  still 
Ages  not  spirit,  even  in  one  point. 
Immeasurably  small ;   from  orb  to  orb. 
In  ever-rising  radiance,  shining  like 
The  sun  upon  the  thousand  lands  of  earth. 
Look  at  the  medley,  motley  throng  we  meet! 
Some  smiling  —  frowning  some;    their  cares  and  joys 
Alike  not  worth  a  thought  —  some  sauntering  slowly, 
As  if  destruction  never  could  o'ertake  them ; 
Some  hurrying  on  as  fearing  judgment  swift 
Should  trip  the  heels  of  death  and  seize  them  living. 
Festus.     Grief  hallows   hearts   even  while   it   ages 

heads ; 
And  much  hot  grief,  in  youth,  forces  up  life 
With  power  which  too  soon  ripens  and  which  drops. 

[^A  funeral  passes. 
Whose  funeral  is  this  ye  follow,  friends  ? 

Lucifer.     Would  ye  have  grief,  let  me  come !  I  am 

woe. 
.    Mourner.     We  want   no   grief:    Festus !    she  died 

of  grief 
Festus.     Did  ye  say  she  died  ]  Oh !  I  knew  her  then. 
Set  down  the  body;    let  me  look  upon  her. 
Now,  Son  of  God !   what  dost  Thou  now  in  Heaven 
While  one  so  beautiful  lies  earthening  here  ] 
I  will  give  up  the  future  for  the  past ; 
The  winged  spirit  and  the  starry  home. 
If  Thou  wilt  let  her  live,  and  make  me  love. 


88  FESTUS. 

Mourner.     She  was  a  lock  of  Heaven  which  Heaven 
gave  earth, 
And  took  again,  because  unworthy  of  her. 

Festus.     Her  air  was  an  immortal's ;    I  have  seen 
Stars  look  on  it  with  feeling;    and  her  eye, 
Wherever  she  went,  it  won  her  way  like  wine. 
Men  bowed  to  it  as  to  the  lifted  Host. 
How  could  I  be  so  cruel  ?     Who  but  1 1 
And  now,  corruption,  come;  sit;  feast  thyself! 
This  is  the  choicest  banquet  thou  hast  been  at. 
Thou  art  my  happier,  only  rival :  thou 
Who  takest  love  from  the  living  —  life  from  beauty  — 
Beauty  from  death  —  whole  robber  of  the  world  f 

Mourner.     The  moment  after  thou  desertedst  her 
A  cloud  came  over  the  prospect  of  her  life ; 
And  I  foresaw  how  evening  would  set  in. 
Early,  and  dark,  and  deadly.     She  was  true. 

Festus.     Did   I   not  love  thee,  too  ]   pure,  perfect 
thing ! 
This  is  a  soul  I  see,  and  not  a  body. 
Go,  beauty,  rest  for  aye;   go,  starry  eyes. 
And  lips  like  rosebuds  peeping  out  of  snow  ; 
Go,  breast  love-filled  as  a  boat's  sail  with  wind. 
Leaping  from  wave  to  wave,  as  leaps  a  child. 
Thoughtless  o'er  grassy  graves ;  go,  locks,  which  have 
The  golden  embrownment  of  a  lion's  eye. 
Yet  one  more  look ;  farewell,  thou  well  and  fair ! 
All  who  but  loved  thee  shall  be  deathless.     Nought 
Named  but  with  thee  can  perish.     Thou  and  Death 


FESTUS.  ^9 

Have  made  each  other  purer,  lovelier  seem, 
Like  snow  and  moonlight.     Never  more  for  thee 
Let  eyes  be  swollen  like  streams  with  latter  rains ! 
To  die  were  rapture,  having  lived  with  thee. 
Thy  soul  hath  passed  out  of  a  bodily  Heaven 
Into  a  spiritual.     Rest  for  aye  !  — 
Pure  after  love  as  e'er  thou  wast  before ; 
Pure  as  the  dead,  in  life ;    the  dead  are  holy. 
I  would  I  were  among  them.     Let  us  pass  ! 
Living  is  but  a  habit ;    and  I  mean 
To  break  myself  of  it  soon. 

Lucifer.  Too  soon  thou  canst  not 

Men  heed  not  of  the  day,  how  nigh  none  knows. 
Which  brings  the  consummation  of  the  world. 
But  in  mine  ear  the  old  machine  already 
Begins  to  grate.     They  would  not  credit  warning, 
Or  I  would  up  and  cry,  E-epent !     I  will. 
Here's  a  fair  gathering,  and  I  feel  moved. 
Mortals,  repent !  the  world  is  nigh  to  its  end  : 
On  its  last  legs  and-  desperately  sick. 
See  ye  not  how  it  reels  round  all  day  long  1 

Boys.      Oh!    here's    a    ranter.      Come,  here's   fun 
Amen ! 
I  know  the  church  service  by  heart. 

Bystander.  Be  off! 

You'll  serve  the  church  by  keeping  out  of  it. 

Lucifer.     I  am  a  preacher  come  to  tell  ye  truth, 
I  tell  ye,  too,  there  is  no  time  to  be  lost ; 
So  fold  your  souls  up  neatly,  while  ye  may; 

12  H* 


JU>  FESIUS. 

Direct  to  God  in  Heaven ;  or  some  one  else 

May  seize  them,  seal   them,   send   them — you   know 

where. 
The  world  must  end.     I  weep  to  think  of  it. 
But  you,  you  laugh !     I  knew  ye  would.     I  know 
Men  never  will  be  wise  till  they  are  fools 
Forever.     Laugh  away !     The  time  will  come, 
When  tears  of  fire  are  trickling  from  your  eyes. 
Ye  will  blame  yourselves  for  having  laughed  at  me. 
I  warn  ye,  men :    prepare !   repent !  'be  saved ! 
I  warn  ye,  not  because  I  love,  but  know  ye. 
God  will  dissolve  the  world,  as  she  of  old 
Her  pearl,  within  His  cup,  and  swallow  ye 
In  wrath :  although  to  taste  ye  would  be  poison, 
And  death  and  suicide  to  aught  but  God. 
Again  I  warn  ye.     Save  himself  who  can ! 
Do  ye  not  oft  begin  to  seek  salvation] 
You  1  you "?  and  fail,  as  oft,  to  find  1    Siak  ?    Cease  '^ 
And  shall  I  tell  ye,  brethren,  why  ye  fail 
Once  and  forever  1  why,  there  is -no  past; 
And  the  future  is  the  fiction  of  a  fiction; 
The  present  moment  is  eternity; 

It  is  that  ye  have  sucked  corruption  from  the  world 
Like  milk  from  your  own  mothers :    it  is  in 
Your  soul-blood  and  your  soul-bones.     Earth  does  not 
Wean  one  out  of  a  thousand  sons  to  Heaven. 
}3eginnings  are  alike :  it  is  ends  which  difier. 
One  drop  falls,  lasts,  and  dries  up  —  but  a  drop; 
Another  begins  a  river:  and  one  thought 


FESTUS.  91 

Settles  a  life,  an  immortality: 

And  that  one  thought  ye  will  not  take  to  good. 

Now  I  will  tell  ye  just  one  other  truth : 

Ye  hate  the  truth  as  snails  salt  —  it  dissolves  ye, 

Body  and  soul  —  but  I  don't  mind.     So,  now: 

Up  to  this  moment  ye  are  all,  each,  damned. 

What  are  ye  now  ?  still  damned  !     It  will  be  the  same 

To-morrow  —  and  the  next  day  —  and  the  next ; 

Till  some  fine  morning  ye  will  wake  in  fire. 

Ye  see  I  do  not-  mince  the  truth  for  ye. 

Belike  you  think  your  lives  will  dribble  out 

As  brooks  in  summer  dry  up.     Let  us  see ! 

Try:  dike  them  up:    they  stagnate  —  thicken  —  scum. 

That  would  make  life  worse  than  death.     Well,  let  go  ! 

Where  are  you  then  ?  for  life,  like  water,  will 

Find  its  last  level;  what  level?     The  grave. 

It  is  but  a  fall  of  five  feet,  after  all ; 

That  cannot  hurt  ye ;  it  is  but  just  enough 

To  work  the  wheel  of  life ;   so  work  away ! 

Ye  may  think  that  I  do  not  know  the  terms 

And  treasures  whereupon  ye  live  so  high. 

But  I  know  more  than  most  men,  modestly 

Speaking.     I  know  I  am  lost,  and  you  too.     God 

Could  only  save  me  by  destroying  me; 

So  that  I  have  no  advantage  over  you. 

And  therefore  think  ye  will  the  rather  bear 

One  of  your  own  state  to  advise  for  ye. 

Now  don't  you  envy  me,  good  folks,  I  pray, — 

Envy's  a  coal  comes  hissing  hot  from  hell. 


92  FESTUS. 

'Twill  be  such  coals  will  burn  ye  by  the  way. 
Your  other  preachers  first  think  they  are  safe. 
Now  I  say,  broadly,  I  am  the  worst  among  ye ; 
And  God  knows  I  have  no  need  to  wrong  myself, 
Nor  you.     I  boast  not  of  it,  but  as  truth: 
It  is  little  t(3  be  proud  of,  credit  me. 
What  is  salvation  1     What  is  safety  ]     Thmk  ! 
Who  wants  to  know "?     Does  any  1 

The  Crowd.  All  of  us. 

Lucifer.     Then  I  will  not  tell  ye.     You  shall  wait 
until 
Some  angel  come  and  stir  your  stagnant  souls : 
Then  plunge  into  yourselves  and  rise  redeemed. 
Come,  111  unroll  your  hearts  and  read  them  to  ye. 
To  say  ye  live  is  but  to  say  ye  have  souls,  ^ 

That  ye  have  paid  for  them  and  mean  to  play  them, 
Till  some  brave  pleasure  wins  the  golden  stake, 
And  rakes  it  up  to  death  as  to  a  bank. 
Ye  live  and  die  on  what  your  souls  will  fetch  ; 
And  all  are  of  different  prices:  therefore  Hell 
Cannot  well  bargain  for  mankind  in  gross ; 
But  each  soul  must  be  purchased,  one  by  one.  . 
This  it  is  makes  men  rate  themselves  so  high : 
While  truly  ye  are  worth  little;  but  to  God 
Ye  are  worth  more  than  to  yourselves.     By  sin 
Ye  wreak  your  spite  against  God  —  that  ye  know  ; 
And  knowing,  will  it.     But  I  pray,  I  beg. 
Act  with  some  smack  of  justice  to  your  Maker, 
If  not  unto  yourselves.     Do  !     It  is  enough 


F EST  us.  93 

To  make  the  very  Devil  chide  mankind  — 
Such  baseness,  such  un thankfulness !     Why,  lie 
Thanks  God  he  is  no  worse.     You  don't  do  that. 
I  say,  be  just  to  God.     Leave  off  these  airs : 
Know  your  place;  speak  to  God  —  and  say,  for  once, 
Go  first,  Lord !     Take  your  finger  off  your  eye. 
It  blocks  the  universe  and  God  from  sight. 
Think  ye  your  souls  are  worth  nothing  to  God  1 
Are  they  so  small  ]      What  can  be  great  with  God  ? 
What  will  ye  weigh  against  the  Lord  1     Yourselves  ? 
Bring  out  your  balance :    get  in,  man  by  man : 
Add  earth,  heaven,  hell,  the  universe  ;    that's  all. 
God  puts  his  finger  in  the  other  scale, 
And  up  we  bounce,  a  bubble.     Nought  is  great 
Nor  small  with  God  —  for  none  but  He  can  make 
The  atom  indivisible,  and  none 
But  He  can  make  a  world :    He  counts  the  orbs, 
He  counts  the  atoms  of  the  universe, 
And  makes  both  equal  —  both  are  infinite. 
Giving  God  honor,  never  underrate 
Yourselves:    after  Him,  ye  are  every  thing. 
But  mind !     God's  more  than  every  thing  ;  He  is  God. 
And  what  of  me  ?     No,  us  1    no !    I  mean  the  Devil  ? 
Why,  see  ye  not  he  goes  before  both  you 
And  God  1     Men  say  —  as  proud  as  Lucifer  — 
Pray  who  would  not  be  proud  with  such  a  train  I 
Hath  he  not  all  the  honor  of  the  earth] 
Whj  Mammon  sits  before  a  million  hearths 
Where  God  is  bolted  out  from  every  house. 


94  FESTUS. 

Well  might  He  say  He  cometh  as  a  thief; 

For  He  will  break  your  bars  and  burst  your  doors 

Which  slammed  against  Him  once,  and  turn  ye  out, 

Koofless  and  shivering,  'neath  the  doom-storm  ;  Heaven 

Shall  crack  above  ye  like  a  bell  in  fire, 

And  bury  all  beneath  its  shining  shards. 

He  calls :   ye  hear  not.     Lo !  He  comes  —  ye  see  not. 

No ;    ye  are  deaf  as  a  dead  adder's  ear : 

No  ;    ye  are  blind  as  never  bat  was  blind. 

With  a  burning,  bloodshot  blindness  of  the  heart ; 

A  swimming,  swollen  senselessness  of  soul. 

Listen !     Whom  love  ye  most  1     Why,  him  to  whom 

Ye  in  your  turn  are  dearest.     Need  I  name] 

Oh  no  !     But  all  are  devils  to  themselves ; 

And  every  man  his  own  great  foe.     Hell  gets  , 

Only  the  gleanings :  earth  hath  the  full  wain ; 

And  hell  is  merry  at  its  harvest-home. 

But  ye  are  generous  to  sin,  and  grudge 

The  gleaners  nothing ;   ask  them,  push  them  in. 

Let  not  an  ear,  a  grain  of  sin,  be  lost ; 

Gather  it,  grind  it  up ;  it  is  our  bread : 

We  should  be  ashamed  to  waste  the  gifts  of  God. 

Why  is  the  world  so  mad]     Why  runs  it  thus 

Raving  and  howling  round  the  universe] 

Because  the  Devil  bit  it  from  the  birth! 

The  fault  is  all  with  him.     Fear  nothing,  friends ! 

It  is  fear  which  beds  the  far  to-come  with  fire 

As  the  sun  does  the  west :   but  *the  sun  sets ; 

Well:  still  ye  tremble  —  tremble,  first  at  light, 


FESTUS.  95 

Then  darkness.     Tremble!   ye  dare  not  believe. 

No,  cowards !   sooner  than  believe  ye  would  die ; 

Die  with  the  black  lie  flapping  on  your  lips 

Like  the  soot-flake  upon  a  burning  bar. 

Be  merry,  happy,  if  ye  can :   think  never 

Of  him  who  slays  your  souls,  nor  Him  who  saves. 

There  is  time  enough  for  that  when  ye  are  a  dying. 

Keep  your  old  ways  !     It  matters  not  this  once. 

Be  brave!     Ye  are  not  men  whom  meat  and  wine 

Serve  to  remind  but  of  the  sacrament ; 

To  whom  sweet  shapes  and  tantalizing  smiles 

Bring  up  the  Devil  and  the  ten  commandments  — 

And  so  on  —  but  I  said  the  world  must  end. 

I  am  sorry ;    it  is  such  a  pleasant  world ; 

With  all  its  faults,  it  is  perfect  —  to  a  fault  ; 

And  you,  of  course,  end  with  it.     Now  how  long 

Will  the  world  take  to  die  ]     I  know  ye  place 

Great  faith  upon  death-bed  repentances ; 

The  suddener  the  better.     I  know  ye  often 

Begin  to  think  of  praying  and  repenting ; 

But  second  thoughts  come,  and  ye  are  worse  than  ever : 

As  over  new  white  snow  a  filthy  thaw. 

Ye  do  amaze  me,  verily.     How  long 

Will  ye  take  heart  on  your  own  wickedness. 

And  God's  forbearance?     Have  ye  cast  it  up] 

Come  now ;  the  year  and  month,  day,  hour,  and  minute, 

Sin's  golden  cycle.     Do  ye  know  how  long 

Exactly  Heaven  will  grant  ye  1  how  long  God,  — 

Who,  when  He  had  slain  the  world  and  wasted  it. 


96  FESTUS. 

Hung  up  His  bow  in  Heaven,  as  in  his  hall 

A  warrior  after  battle — will  yet  bear 

Your  contumely  and  scorn  of  His  best  gifts, — 

Man's  mockery  of  man'?     But  never  mind! 

Some  of  us  are  magnificently  good. 

And  hold  the  head  up  high  like  a  giraffe; 

You,  in  particular,  and  you  —  and  you. 

Good  men  are  here  and  there,  I  know;  but  then, — 

You  must  excuse  me  if  I  mention  this  — 

My  duty  is  to  tell  it  you  —  the  world, 

Like  a  black  block  of  marble,  jagged  with  white, 

As  with  a  vein  of  lightning  petrified. 

Looks  blacker  than  without  such ;  looks  in  truth. 

So  gross  the  heathen,  gross  the  Christian  too  — 

Like  the  original  darkness  of  void  space. 

Hardened.     Instead  of  justice,  love,  and  grace. 

Each  worth  to  man  the  mission  of  a  God, 

Injustice,  hate,  uncharitableness, 

Tri-equal  reign  round  earth,  a  Trinity  of  Hell. 

Ye  think  ye  never  can  be  bad  enough  ; 

And  as  ye  sink  in  sin,  ye  rise  in  hope. 

And  let  the  worst  come  to  the  worst,  you  say. 

There  always  will  be  time  to  turn  ourselves. 

And  cry  for  half  an  hour  or  so  to  God : 

Salvation,  sure,  is  not  so  very  hard  — 

It  need  not  take  one  long ;  and  half  an  hour 

Is  quite  as  much  as  we  can  spare  for  it. 

We  liave  no  time  for  pleasures.     Business  !  business ! 

No !   ye  shall  perish  sudden  and  unsaved. 


FESTUS.  97 

The  piiest  shall,  dipping,  die.     Can  man  save  man? 

Is  water  God]     The  counsellor,  wise  fool! 

Drop  down  amid  his  quirks  and  sacred  lies. 

The  judge,  while  dooming  unto  death  some  wretch. 

Shall  meet  at  once  his  own  death,  doom,  and  judge. 

The  doctor,  watch  in  hand  and  patient's  pulse. 

Shall  feel  his  own  heart  cease  its  beats  —  and  fall. 

Professors  shall  spin  out,  and  students  strain 

Their  brains  no  more;  art,  science,  toil,  shall  cease. 

The  world  shall  stand  still  with  a  rending  jar, 

As  though  it  struck  at  sea.     The  halls  where  sit 

The  heads  of  nations  shall  be  dumb  with  death. 

The  ship  shall  after  her  own  plummet  sink, 

And  sound  the  sea  herself  and  depths  of  death. 

At  the  first  turn  Death  shall  cut  off  the  thief. 

And  dash  the  gold  bag  in  his  yellow  brain. 

The  gambler,  reckoning  gains,  shall  drop  a  piece : 

Stoop  down,  and  there  see  death ;  —  look  up,  there  God. 

The  wanton,  temporizing  with  decay. 

And  qualifying  every  line  which  vice 

Writes  bluntly  on  the  brow%  inviting  scorn. 

Shall  pale  through  plastered  red:    and  the  loose,  low 

sot 
See  clear,   for  once,   through   his   misty,  o'erbrimmed 

eye. 
The  just,  if  there  be  any,  die  in  prayer. 
Death  shall  be  every  where  among  your  marts, 
And  giving  bills  which  no  man  may  decline —  . 
Drafts  upon  hell  one  moment  after  date. 

13  I 


98  FESTUS. 

Then  shall  your  outcries  tremhle  amid  the  stars: 
Terrors  shall  be  about  ye  like  a  wind; 
And  fears  come  do^vn  upon  ye  like  a  house. 

Festus.     Yon  man  looks  frightened. 

Lucifer.  Then  it  is  time  to  stop. 

I  hope  I  have  done  no  good.     He  will  soon  forget 
His  soul.     Flesh  soaks  it  up  as  sponge  does  water. 
Now  wait !  I  will  rub  them  backwards  like  a  cat  ; 
And  you  shall  see  them  spit  and  sparkle  up. 
Let  us  suppose  a  case,  friends !     You  are  men  ; 
And  there  is  God!  and  I  will  be  the  Devil. 
Very  well.     I  am  the  Devil. 

One  says.  I  think  you  are. 

You  look  as  if  you  lived  on  buttered  thunder. 

Lucifer.     Nay,  be  not  wroth.      Ye  would  crucify 
the  Devil, 
I  do  believe,  if  he  a  moment  vexed  you. 
I  know  well  which  ye  choose ;   but  choose  again  ! 
Time  or  eternity  %     Speak,  Hell  or  Heaven  1 

The    Crowd.      He's    a    mad    ranter :    down    with 
him! — 

Festus.  Let  him  be! 

Lucifer.     Stand   by    me,   Festus!    and    I   will    by 
thee. 
Why,  God  and  man !  this  is  the  second  time 
That  I  have  run  for  my  life. 

Festus.  Nay,  nay,  come  back! 

They  will  not  harm  thee :  they  would  chair  thee  round 
The  market-place,  knew  they  but  whom  thou  art 


FESTUS.  99 

Peace  there,  my  friends !  one  minute ;  let  us  pray  I 

Grant  us,  O  God!  that  in  Thy  holy  love 

The  universal  people  of  the  world 

May  grow  more  great  and  happy  every  day ; 

Mightier,  wiser,  humbler,  too,  towards  Thee. 

And  that  all  ranks,  all  classes,  callings,  states 

Of  life,  so  far  as  such  seem  right  to  Thee, 

May  mingle  into  one,  like  sister  trees, 

And  so  in  one  stem  flourish ;  —  that  all  laws 

And  powers  of  government  be  based  and  used 

In  good  and  for  the  people's  sake ;  —  that  each 

May  feel  himself  of  consequence  to  all. 

And  act  as  though  all  saw  him  ;  —  that  the  whole. 

The  mass  of  every  nation,  may  so  do 

As  is  most  worthy  of  the  next  to  God ; 

For  a  whole  people's  souls,  each  one  worth  more 

Than  a  mere  world  of  matter,  make  combined, 

A  something  godlike  —  something  like  to  Thee. 

We  pray  Thee  for  the  welfare  of  all  men. 

Let  monarchs  who  love  truth  and  freedom  feel 

The  happiness  of  safety  and  respect 

From  those  they  rule,  and  guardianship  from  Thee 

Let  them  remember  they  are  set  on  thrones 

As  representatives,  not  substitutes 

Of  nations,  to  implead  with  God  and  man. 

Let  tyrants  who  hate  truth,  or  fear  the  free. 

Know  that  to  rule  in  slavery  and  error. 

For  the  mere  ends  of  personal  pomp  and  power, 

Is  such  a  sin  as  doth  deserve  a  hell 


100  FESTUS. 

To  itself  sole.     Let  both  remember,  Lord! 

They  are  but  things  like-iiatured  with  all  nations ; 

That  mountains  issue  out  of  plains,  and  not 

Plains  out  of  mountains,  and  so  likewise  kings 

Are  of  the  people,  not  the  people  of  kings. 

And  let  all  feel,  the  rulers  and  the  ruled. 

All  classes  and  all  countries,  that  the  world 

Is  Thy  great  halidom ;    that  Thou  art  King, 

Lord !   only  owner  and  possessor.     Grant 

That  nations  may  now  see,  it  is  not  kings 

Nor  priests  they  need  fear  so  much  as  themselves  ; 

That  if  they  keep  but  true  to  themselves,  and  free, 

Sober,  enlightened,  godly  —  mortal  men 

Become  impassible  as  air,  one  great 

And  indestructible  substance  as  the  sea. 

Let  all  on  thrones  and  judgment  seats  reflect 

How  dreadful  Thy  revenge  through  nations  is 

On  those  who  wrong  them ;    but  do  Thou  grant,  Lord 

That  when  wrongs  are  to  be  redressed,  such  may 

Be  done  with  mildness,  speed,  and  firmness,  not 

With  violence  or  hate,  whereby  one  wrong 

Translates  another  —  both  to  Thee  abhorrent. 

The  bells  of  time  are  ringing  changes  fast. 

Grant,  Lord !  that  each  fresh  peal  may  usher  in 

An  era  of  advancement,  that  each  change 

Prove  an  effectual,  lasting,  happy  gain. 

And  we  beseech  Thee,  overrule,  O  God! 

All  civil  contests  to  the  good  of  all ; 

A.11  party  and  religious  difference 


F  E  s  T  u  s .  '-'..;;       x;().i 

To  honorable  ends,  whether  secured 
Or  lost ;  and  let  all  strife,  political 
Or  social,  spring  from  conscientious  aims, 
And  have  a  generous,  self-ennobling  end, 
Man's  good  and  Thine  own  glory  in  \'iew  always  ! 
The  best  may  then  fail,  and  the  worst  succeed 
Alike  with  honor.     We  beseech  Thee,  Lord ! 
For  bodily  strength,  but  more  especially 
For  the  soul's  health  and  safety.     We  entreat  Thee 
In  Thy  great  mercy  to  decrease  our  wants, 
And  add  autumnal  increase  to  the  comforts 
^Vhich  tend  to  keep  men  innocent,  and  load 
Their  hearts  with   thanks  to  Thee,  as    trees  in  bear- 
ing:— 
The  blessings  of  friends,  families,  and  homes. 
And  kindnesses  of  kindred.     And  we  pray 
That  men  may  rule  themselves  m  faith  in  God, 
In  charity  to  each  other,  and  in  hope 
Of  their  own  soul's  salvation: — that  the  mass, 
The  millions  in  all  nations,   may  be  trained. 
From  their  youth  upwards,  in  a  nobler  mode. 
To  loftier  and  more  liberal  ends.     We  pray. 
Above  all  things,  Lord  !  that  all  men  be  free 
From  bondage,  whether  of  the  mind  or  body ;  — 
The  bondage  of  religious  bigotry, 
And  bald  antiquity,  servility 

Of  thought  or  speech  to  rank  and  power ;   be  all 
Free  as  they  ought  to  be,  in  mind  and  soul, 

As  well  as  by  state  birthright ;  —  and  that  Mind, 

1* 


•  3^2   '  '     -••'>^'"    •»  FESTUS. 

Time's  giant  pupil,  may  right  soon  attain 
Majority,  and  speak  and  act  for  himself. 
Incline  Thou  to  our  prayers,  and  grant,  O  Lord! 
That  all  may  have  enough,  and  some  safe  mean 
Of  worldly  goods  and  honors,  by  degrees, 
Take  place,  if  practicable,  in  the  fitness 
And  fullness  of  Thy  time.     And  we  beseech  Thee, 
That  Truth  no  more  be  gagged,  nor  conscience  dun- 
geoned, 
Nor  science  be  impeached  of  godlessness. 
Nor  faith  be  circumscribed,  which,  as  to  Thee, 
And  the  soul's  self  affairs,  is  infinite; 
But  that  all  men  may  have  due  liberty 
To  speak  an  honest  mind,  in  every  land. 
Encouragement  to  study,  leave  to  act 
As  conscience  orders.     "We  entreat  Thee,  Lord! 
For  Thy  Son's  sake,  to  take  away  reproach 
Of  all  kinds  from  Thy  church,  and  all  temptation 
Of  pomp  or  power  political,  that  none 
May  err  in  the  end  for  which  they  w^re  appointed 
To  any  of  its  orders,  low  or  high ; 
And  no  ambition,  of  a  worldly  cast. 
Leaven  the  love  of  souls  unto  whose  care 
They  feel  propelled  by  Thy  most  holy  Spirit. 
Be  every  church  established.  Lord !  in  truth. 
Let  all  who  preach  the  word  live  by  the  word, 
In  moderate  estate;  and  in  Thy  church  — 
One,  universal,  and  in\isible 
World-wards,  yet  manifest  unto  itself — 


FESTUS.  103 

May  it  seem  good,  dear  Savior,  in  Thy  sight, 

That  orders  be  distinguished,  not  by  wealth, 

But  piety  and  power  of  teaching  souls. 

Equalize  labor,  Lord!  and  recompense. 

Let  not  a  hundred  humble  pastors  starve, 

In  this  or  any  land  of  Christendom, 

"While  one  or  two,  impalaced,  mitred,  throned 

And  banqueted,  burlesque  if  not  blaspheme 

The  holy  penury  of  the  Son  of  God; 

The  fastings,  the  foot-wanderings,  and  the  preachings 

Of  Christ  and  His  first  followers.      Oh  that  the  Son 

Might  come  again !     There  should  be  no  more  war. 

No  more  want,  no  more  sickness ;  with  a  touch 

He  should  cure  all  disease,  and  with  a  word 

All  sin;  and  with  a  look  to  Heaven,  a  prayer, 

Provide  bread  for  a  million  at  a  time. 

But  till  that  perfect  advent  grant  us.  Lord! 

That  all  good  institutions,  orders,  claims. 

Charitably  proposed,  or  in  the  aid 

Of  Thy  divine  foundation,  may  much  prosper, 

And  more  of  them  be  raised  and  nobly  filled ;  — 

That  Thy  word  may  be  taught  throughout  all  lands. 

And  save  souls  daily  to  the  thrones  of  Heaven  !  — 

And  we  entreat  Thee,  that  all  men  whom  Thou 

Hast  gifted  with  great  minds  may  love  Thee  well. 

And  praise  Thee  for  their  powers,  and  use  them  most 

Humbly  and  holily,  and,  lever-like. 

Act  but  in  lifting  up  the  mass  of  mmd 

About  them;  knowing  well  that  they  shall  be 


104  FLSTLS. 

Questioned  by  Thee  of  deeds  the  pen  hath  done, 

Or  caused,  or  glozed ;   inspire  them  with  delight 

And  power  to  treat  of  noble  themes  and  things 

Worthily,  and  to  leave  the  low  and  mean  — 

Things  born  of  vice  or  day-lived  fashion,  in 

Their  naked,  native  folly:' — make  them  know 

Fine  thoughts  are  wealth,  for  the  right  use  of  which 

Men  are  and  ought  to  be  accountable, — 

If  not  to  Thee,  to  those  they  influence. 

Grant  this  we  pray  Thee,  and  that  all  who  read 

Or  utter  noble  thoughts  may  make  them  theirs, 

And  thank  God  for  them,  to  the  betterment 

Of  their  succeeding  life  ;  —  that  all  who  lead 

The  general  sense  and  taste,  too  apt,  perchance. 

To  be  led,  keep  in  mind  the  mighty  good 

They  may  achieve,  and  are  in  conscience  bound. 

And  duty,  to  attempt  unceasingly 

To  compass.     Grant  us,  all-maintaining  Sire! 

That  all  the  great  mechanic  aids  to  toil 

Man's   skill   hath   formed,  found,  rendered,  —  whether 

used 
In  multiplying  works  of  mind,  or  aught 
To  obviate  the  thousand  wants  of  life,  / 

May  much  avail  to  human  welfare  now, 
And  in  all  ages,  henceforth  and  forever. 
Let  their  eflect  be.  Lord!  to  lighten  labor, 
And  give  more  room  to  mind,  and  leave  the  poor 
Some  time  for  self-improvement.     Let  them  not 
Be  forced  to  grind  the  bones  out  of  their  arms 


FESTUS.  lOo 

For  bread,  but  have  some  space  to  think  and  fool 

Like  moral  and  immortal  creatures.     God! 

Have  mercy  on  them  till  such  time  shall  come  ; 

Look  Thou  with  pity  on  all  lesser  crimes, 

Thrust  on  men  almost  when  devoured  by  w^ant, 

Wretchedness,  ignorance,  and  outcast  life ! 

Have  mercy  on  the  rich,  too,  who  pass  by 

The  means  they  have  at  hand  to  fill  their  minds 

With  serAdceable  knowledge  for  themselves. 

And  fellows,  and  support  not  the  good  cause 

Of  the  world's  better  future  !     Oh,  reward 

All  such  who  do,  with  peace  of  heart  and  power, 

For  greater  good.     Have  mercy,  Lord !  on  each 

And  all,  for  all  men  need  it  equally. 

May  peace,  and  industry,  and  commerce  weld 

Into  one  land  all  nations  of  the  world, 

Rewedding  those  the  Deluge  once  divorced. 

Oh  !  may  all  help  each  other  in  good  things. 

Mentally,  morally,  and  bodily. 

Vouchsafe,  kind  God !  Thy  blessing  to  this  isle, 

Specially.     May  our  country  ever  lead 

The  world,  for  she  is  worthiest;   and  may  all 

Profit  by  her  example,  and  adopt 

Her  course,  wherever  great,  or  free,  or  just. 

May  all  her  subject  colonies  and  powers 

Have  of  her  freedoni  freelv,  as  a  child 

Receiveth  of  its  parents.     Let  not  rights 

Be  wrested  from  us  to  our  own  reproach, 

14 


106  FESTUS. 

But  granted.     We  may  make  the  whole  world  fiee. 

And  be  as  free  ourselves  as  ever,  more ! 

If  policy  or  self-defence  call  forth 

Our  forces  to  the  field,  let  us  in  Thee 

Place,  first,  our  trust,  and  in  Thy  name  we  shall 

O'ercome,  for  we  will  only  wage  the  right. 

Let  us  not  conquer  nations  for  ourselves. 

But  for  Thee,  Lord!  who  hast  predestined  us 

To  fight  the  battles  of  the  future  now. 

And  so  have  done  with  war  before  Thou  comest. 

Till  then,  Lord  God  of  armies,  let  our  foes 

Have  their  swords  broken  and  their  cannon  burst, 

And  their  strong  cities  levelled;  and  while  we 

War  faithfully  and  righteously,  improve. 

Civilize,  Christianize  the  lands  we  win 

From  savage  or  from  nature.  Thou,  O  God! 

Wilt  aid  and  hallow  conquest,  as  of  old, 

Thine  own  immediate  nation's.     But  we  pray 

That  all  mankind  may  make  one  brotherhood. 

And  love  and  serve  each  other;  that  all  wars 

And  feuds  die  out  of  nations,  whether  those 

Whom  the  sun's  hot  light  darkens,  or  ourselves 

Whom  he  treats  fairly,  or  the  northern  tribes 

Whom  ceaseless  snows  and  starry  winters  blench. 

Savage  or  civilized,  —  let  every  race. 

Red,  black,  or  white,  olive,  or  tawny-skinned, 

Settle  in  peace  and  swell  the  gathering  hosts 

Of  the  great  Prince  of  Peace.     Oh !  may  the  hour 


FESTUS.  107 

Soon    come   when    all   false    gods,    false    creeds,    false 

prophets,  — 
Allowed  in  Thy  good  purpose  for  a  time, — 
Demolished,  the  great  world  shall  be  at  last 
The  mercy-seat  of  God,  the  heritage 
Of  Christ,  and  the  possession  of  the  Spirit, 
The  comforter,  the  wisdom !  shall  all  be 
One  land,  one  home,  one  friend,  one  faith,  one  law. 
Its  ruler  God,  its  practice  righteousness. 
Its  life  peace !     For  the  one  true  faith  we  pray ; 
There  is  but  one  in  Heaven,  and  there  shall  be 
But  one  on  earth,  the  same  which  is  in  Heaven. 
Prophecy  is  more  true  than  history. 
Grant  us  our  prayers,  we  pray.  Lord!  in  the  name 
And  for  the  sake  of  Thy  Son  Jesus  Christ, 
Our  Savior  and  Redeemer,  who  with  Thee, 
And  with  the  Holy  Spirit,  reigneth  God 

Over  all  worlds,  one  blessed  Trinity. 

The  Crowd.     Amen ! 

Lucifer.     Well,  friends,  we'll  sing  a  hymn  ;    then 

part. 
I  give  it  out,  and  you  sing  —  all  of  you. 

Oh !   Earth  is  cheating  Earth 

From  age  to  age  forever  ; 
She  laughs  at  faith  and  worth. 

And  dreams  she  shall  die  never ; 
Never,  never,  never! 
And  dreams  she  shall  die  ne\'er. 


108  FESTUS. 


And  Hell  is  cursing  Hell 


From  age  to  age  forever ; 
Its  groans  ring  out  the  knell 

Of  souls  that  may  die  never ! 
Never,  never,  never! 
Of  souls  that  may  die  never. 

But  Heaven  is  blessing  Heaven 

From  age  to  age  forever; 
And  its  thanks  to  God  are  given 

For  bliss  that  can  die  never; 
Never,  never,  never! 
For  bliss  that  can  die  never. 

My  blessing  be  upon  ye  all ;  now  go ! 

Festus.     I  wonder  what  these  people  make  of  thee. 

Lucifer.     Ay,  manner's  a  great  matter. 

Festus.  They  deserve 

All  the  rebuke  thou  gavest  them,  and  more. 
What  mountains  of  delusion  men  have  reared! 
How  every  age  hath  bustled  on  to  build 
Its  shadowy  mole  —  its  monumental  dream  ! 
How  faith  and  fancy,  in  the  mind  of  man. 
Have  spuriously  mingled,  and  how  much 
Shall  pass  away  for  aye,  as  pass  before 
Yon  sun,  the  Lord  of  steadfastness  and  change, 
The  visionary  landscapes  of  the  skies ;  — 
The  golden  capes  far  stretching  into  Heaven, 
The  snow-piled  cloud  crags,  the  bright- winged  isles 


FESTUS.  lull 

Which  dot  the  deep,  impassive  ocean,  aii. 
Like  a  disbanded  rainbow,  of  all  hues, 
Fit  for  translated  fairy's  Paradise ;  — 
Or  as  before  the  eye  of  musing  child. 
The  faces  Fancy  forms  in  clouds  and  fire 
Of  glowing  angels  or  of  darkening  fiend. 
Arts,  superstition,  arms,  philosophy. 
Have  each  in  turn  possessed,  betrayed,  and  mocked  us. 
/  Yes,  vain  philosophy,  thine  hour  is  come! 
Thy  lips  were  lined  with  the  immortal  lie, 
And  dyed  with  all  the  look  of  truth.     Men  saw, 
Believed,  embraced,  detested,  cast  thee  off*. 
Those  lights,  the  morn  of  Truth's  immortal  day. 
As  thou  didst  falsely  swear  them,  have  they  not 
Vanished,  the  mere  auroras  of  the  mind] 
And  thou  didst  vow  to  gather  clear  again 
The  fallen  waters  of  humanity ; 
To  smooth  the  flaw  from  out  an  eye ;  to  piece 
A  pounded  pearl.     Thank  God!  I  am  a  man; 
Not  a  philosopher.     Rivers  may  rot. 
Never  revive  the  root  of  oak  firebolted. 
Come,  let  us  to  the  hills !  where  none  but  God 
Can  overlook  us ;  for  I  hate  to  breathe 
The  breaths  and  think  the  thoughts  of  other  men. 
In  close  and  clouded  cities,  where  the  sky 
Frowns,  like  an  angry  father,  mournfully. 
I  love  the  hills,  and  I  love  loneliness. 
And  Oh  !  1  love  the  woods,  those  natural  fanes 
Whose  very  air  is  holy ;  and  we  breathe 


110  FESTUS. 

Of  God ;  for  He  doth  come  in  special  place, 
And,  while  we  worship,  He  is  there  for  us. 

Lucifer.     It  is  time  that  something  should  be  don»^ 
for  the  poor. 
The  sole  equality  on  earth  is  death ; 
Now,  rich  and  poor  are  both  dissatisfied. 
I  am  for  judgment:  that  will  settle  both. 
Nothing  is  to  be  done  without  destruction. 
Death  is  the  universal  salt  of  states  ; 
Blood  is  the  base  of  all  things  —  law  and  war, 
I  could  tame  this  lion  age  to  follow  me. 
I  should  like  to  macadamize  the  world ; 
The  roa/i  to  Hell  wants  mending. 

Fertus.  Come  away! 


Scene  —  Alcove  and  Garden, 
Festus  and  Clara. 

Festus.     What   happy  things  are   youth,  and  love, 
and  sunshine ! 
How  sweet  to  feel  the  sun  upon  the  heart ! 
To  know  it  is  lighting  up  the  rosy  blood, 
And  with  all  joyous  feelings,  prism-hued. 
Making  the  dark  breast  shine  like  a  spar  grot. 
We  walk  among  the  sunbeams  as  with  angels. 

Clara.     Yes,  there  are  feelings  so  serene  and  sweet. 
Coming  and  going  with  a  musical  lightness, 


^ 


F  E  S  T  U  S .  Ill 

That  they  can  make  amends  for  their  passingness, 

And  balance  God's  condition  to  decay ; 

As  yon  light  fleecy  cloudlet  floating  along, 

Like  golden  down  from  some  high  angel's  wing, 

Breaks,  but  relieves  and  beautifies  the  blue. 

I  wonder  if  ever  I  could  love  another. 

How  I  should  start,  to  see  upon  the  sward 

A  shadow  not  thine  own,  arm-linked  with  mine ; 

See,  here  is  a  garland  I  have  bound  for  thee. 

Festus.     Nay,  crown  thyself;   it  will  suit  thee  bet- 
ter, love. 
Place  wreaths  of  everlasting  flowers  on  tombs, 
And  deck  with  fading  beauties  forms  that  fade. 
Put  it  away.     I  will  no  crown  save  this: 
And  could  the  line  of  dust  which  here  I  trace 
Upon  my  brow  but  warrant  dust  beneath  — 
And  nothing  more  —  or  couM  this  bubble  frame. 
Informed  with  soul,  lashed  fiom  the  stream  of  life 
By  its  own  impetus,  but  burst  at  once. 
And  vanish,  part  on  high  and  part  below,  . 
I  would  be  happy,  nor  would  envy  death. 
Could  I,  like  Heaven's  bolt,  earthing  quench  myself, 
This  moment  would  I  burn  me  out  a  grave. 
Might  I  but  be  as  many  years  in  d}dng 
As  I  have  lived  —  that  might  be  some  relief 

Clara.     What  canst  thou  mean  1 

Festus.  Mean?     Is  there  not  a  future? 

The  past,  the  present,  and  the  coming,  curse  each! 
The  future,  curse  it! 


112 


F  E  S  T  U  S 


Clira.  Shall  we  not  ever  live 

And  love  as  now] 

Festus.  Ay,  live  I  fear  we  must. 

Clara.     And  love:  because  we  then  are  happiest. 
We  shall  lack  nothing  having  love :  and  we, 
We  must  be  happy  every  where  —  we  two  ! 
For  spiritual  life  is  great  and  clear, 
And  self-continuous  as  the  changeless  sea, 
Rolling  the  same  in  every  age  as  now ; 
Whether  o'er  mountain-tops,  where  only  snow 
Dwells,  and  the  sunbeam  hurries  coldly  by ; 
Or  o'er  the  vales,  as  now,  of  some  old  world. 
Older  than  ancient  man's.     As  is  the  sea's. 
So  is  the  life  of  spirit,  and  the  kind. 
And  then  with  natures  raised,  refined  and  freed 
From  these  poor  forms,  our  days  shall  pass  in  peace 
And  love :  no  thought  of  human  littleness 
Shall  cross  our  high,  calm  souls,  shining  and  pure 
As  the  gold  gates  of  Heaven.     Like  some  deep  lake 
Upon  a  mountain  summit  they  shall  rest. 
High  above  cloud  and  storm  of  life  like  this. 
All  peace  and  power,  and  passionless  purity; 
Or  if  a  thought  of  other  troubled  times 
Ruffle  it  for  a  moment,  it  shall  pass 
Like  a  chance  raindrop  on  its  heavenward  face. 
I  love  to  meditate  on  bliss  to  come. 
Not  that  I  am  unhappy  here ;  but  that 
The  hope  of  higher  bliss  may  rectify 
,    The  lower  feeling  wliich  we  now  enjoy. 


FESTUS. 


113 


This  life,  this  world,  is  not  enough  for  us; 

They  are  nothing  to  the  measure  of  our  mind. 

For  place,  we  must  have  space;    for  time,  we   must 

have 
Eternity;  and  for  a  spirit,  godhood. 

Festus.     Mind  means  not  happiness ;  power  is  not 
good. 

Clara.     True  bliss  is  to  be  found  in  holy  life ; 
In  charity  to  man  —  in  love  to  God: 
Why  should  such  duties  cease,  such  powers  decay  ] 
Are  they  not  worthy  of  a  deathless  state  — 
A  boundless  scope  —  a  high,  uplifted  life  1 
Man,  like  the  air-born  eagle,  who  remains 
On  earth  only  to  feed,  and  sleep,  and  die ; 
But  whose  delight  is  on  his  lonely  wing, 
Wide-sweeping  as  a  mind,  to  force  the  skies 
High  as  the  lightfall  ere,  begirt  with  clouds. 
It  dash  this  nether  world  —  immortal  man 
Rushes  aloft,  right  upwards,  into  Heaven. 
Oh,  faith  of  Christ,  sole  honor  of  the  world ! 

Festus.      Wliat    know   men   of    religion,    save    its 
forms  ] 

Clara.     True  faith  nor  biddeth  nor  abideth  form. 
The  bended  knee,  the  eye  uplift,  is  all 
Which  man  need  render;   all  which  God  can  bear. 
What  to  the  faith  are  forms'?     A  passing  speck, 
A  crow  upon  the   sky.     God's  worship  is 
That  only  He  inspires;   and  His  bright  words. 
Writ  in  the  red-leaved  volume  of  the  heart, 

15  J* 


114  FESTUS. 

Return  to  him  in  prayer,  as  dew  to  Heaven. 
Our  proper  good  we  rarely  seek  or  make ; 
Mindless  -of  our  immortal  powers  and  their 
Immortal  end,  as  is  the  pearl  of  its  worth, 
The  rose  its  scent,  the  wave  its  purity. 

Festus.     Come,  we  will  quit  these  saddening  themes. 
Wilt  sing 
To  me"?  for  I  am  gloomy;  and  I  love 
Thy  singing,  sacred  as  the  sound  of  hymns, 
On  some  bright  Sabbath  morning,  on  the  moor, 
Where  all  is  still  save  praise;   and  where  hard  by 
The  ripe  grain  shakes  its  bright  beard  in  the  sun; 
The  wild  bee  hums  more  solemnly ;  the  deep  sky. 
The  fresh  green  grass,  the  sun,  and  sunny  brook, 
All  look  as  if  they  knew  the  day,  the  hour. 
And  felt  with  man  the  need  and  joy  of  thanks. 

Clara.     I  cannot  sing  the  lightsome  lays  of  loA'e. 
Many  thou  know'st  who  can ;  but  none  that  can 
Love  thee  as  I  do  —  for  I  love  thy  soul ; 
And  I  would  save  it,  Festus  !     Listen  then :  — 

Is  Heaven  a  place  where  pearly  streams 

Glide  over  silver  sand  1 
Like  childhood's  rosy,  dazzling  dreams 

Of  some  far  faery  land? 
Is  Heaven  a  clime  where  diamond  dews 

Glitter  on  fadeless  flowers'? 
And  mirth  and  music  ring  aloud 

From  amaranthine  bowers  ] 


FESTUS.  115 

Ah !  no ;  not  such,  not  such  is  Heaven ! 

Surpassing  far  all  these ; 
Such  cannot  be  the  guerdon  given 

Man's  wearied  soul  to  please. 
For  saint  and  sinner  here  below 

Such  vain  to  be  have  proved: 
And  the  pure  spirit  will  despise 

Whate'er  the  sense  hath  loved. 

There  we  shall  dwell  with  Sire  and  Sen, 

And  with  the  mother-maid, 
And  with  the  Holy  Spirit,  one. 

In  glory  like  arrayed: 
And  not  to  one  created  thing 

Shall  our  embrace  be  given ; 
But  all  our  joys  shall  be  in  God ; 

For  only  God  is  Heaven. 

Festus.     I  know  that  thou  dost  love  me.     I  in  vain 
Strive  to  love  aught  of  earth  or  Heaven  but  thee. 
Thou  art  my  first,  last,  only  love ;  nor  shall 
Another  even  tempt  my  heart.     Like  stars, 
A  thousand,  sweet  and  bright,  and  wondrous  fair, 
A  thousand  deathless  miracles  of  beauty. 
They  shall  ever  pass  at  all  but  eyeless  distance, 
And  never  mix  with  thy  love;   but  be  lost. 
All,  meanly  in  its  moonlike  lustrousness. 

Clara.     How  still  the  air  is !  the  tree  tops  stir  not : 
But  stand  and  peer  on  Heaven's  bright  face,  as  thougb 


116  FESTUS. 

It  slept  and  they  were  loving  it :  they  would  not 
Have  the  skies  see  them  move   for   summers  ;   would 

they] 
See  that  sweet  cloud !  It  is  watching  us,  1  am  certain. 
What  have  we  here  to  make  thee  stay  one  second? 
Away;  thy  sisters  wait  thee  in  the  west, 
The  blushing  bridemaids  of  the  sun  and  sea. 
I  would  I  were  like  thee,  thou  little  cloud, 
Ever  to  live  in  Heaven :   or  seeking  earth 
To  let  my  spirit  down  in  drops  of  love: 
To  sleep  with  night  upon  her  dewy  lap ; 
x\nd  the  next  dawn,  back  with  the  sun  to  Heaven  ; 
And  so  on  through  eternity,  sweet  cloud ! 
I  cannot  but  think  that  some  senseless  things 
Are  happy.     Often  and  often  have  I  watched 
A  gossamer  line  sighing  itself  along 
The  air,  as  it  seemed;   and  so  thin,  thin  and  bright, 
Looking  as  woven  in  a  loom  of  light. 
That  I  have  envied  it,  I  have,  and  followed;  — 
Oft  watched  the  seabird's  down  blown  o'er  the  wave, 
Now  touching  it,  now  spirited  aloft, 
Now  out  of  sight,  now   seen,  —  till    in    some   bright 

fringe 
Of  streamy  foam,  as  in  a  cage,  at  last 
A  playful  death  it  dies,  and  mourned  its  death. 

Festus.     But  thinkest  thou  the  future  is  a  state 
More  positive  than  this ;  or  that  it  can  be 
Aught  but  another  present,  full  of  cares, 
And  toils,  perhaps,  and  duties ;  that  the  soul 


FESTUS.  117 

Will  ever  be  more  nigh  to  God  than  noAV, 
Save  as  may  seem  from  mind's  debility: 
Just  as  the  sun,  from  weakness  of  the  eye, 
And  the  illusions  made  by  matter's  forms, 
Seems  hot  and  wearied  resting  on  the  hill  ] 
It  would  be  well,  I  think,  to  live  as  though 
No  more  were  to  be  looked  for;  to  be  good 
Because  it  is  best,  here :   and  leave  hope  and  fear 
For  lives  below  ourselves.     If  earth  persuades  not 
That  I  owe  prayer,  and  praise,  and  love  to  God, 
While  all  I  have  He  gives,  will  Heaven]  will  Hell? 
No  ;  neither,  never  ! 

Clara.  I  think  not  all  with  thee. 

Have  I  not  heard  thee  hint  of  spirit-friends  1 
Where  are  they  now? 

Festus.  Ah !  close  at  hand,  mayhap 

I  have  a  might  immortal ;  and  can  ken 
With  angels.     Neither  sky,  nor  night,  nor  earth  ' 
Hinders  me.     Through  the  forms  of  things  I  see 
Their  essences  ;  and  thus,  even  now,  behold  — 
But  where  I  cannot  show  to  thee  —  far  round, 
Nature  herself — the  whole  effect  of  God. 
Mind,  matter,  motion,  heat,  time,  love,  and  life 
And  death,  and  immortality  —  those  chief 
And  first-born  giants  all  are  there  —  all  parts. 
All  limbs  of  her,  their  mother:   she  is  all. 

Clara.     And  what  does  she  ? 

Festus.  Produce:  it  is  her  life. 

The  three  I  named  last,  life,  death,  deathlessness. 


)  18  FESTUS. 

Glide  in  elliptic  path  round  all  things  made  — 
For  none  save  God  can  fill  the  perfect  whole: 
And  are  but  to  eternity  as  is 
The  horizon  to  the  world.     At  certain  points 
Each  seems  the  other ;  now,  the  three  are  one ; 
Now,  all  invisible ;  and  now,  as  first, 
Moving  in  measured  round. 

Clara.  How  look  these  beings'? 

Festus.      Ah!    Life   looks   gayly   and   gloomily  in 
turns ; 
With  a  brow  checkered  like  the  sward,  by  leaves 
Between  which   the  light   glints ;    and   she,    careless, 

wears 
A  wreath  of  flowers  —  part  faded  and  part  fresh. 
And  Death  is  beautiful,  and  sad,  and  still : 
She  seems  too  happy ;  happier  far  than  life  — 
In  but  one  feeling,  apathy:  and  on 
Her  chill,  white  brow,  frosts  bright  a  braid  of  snow. 

Clara.     And  Immortality  1 

Festus.  She  looks  alone  ; 

As  though  she  would  not  know  her  sisterhood. 
And  on  her  brow  a  diadem  of  fire. 
Matched  by  the  conflagration  of  her  eye, 
Outflaming  even  that  eye  which  in  my  sleep 
Beams  close  upon  me  till  it  bursts  from  sheer 
O'erstrainedness  of  sight,  burns. 

Clara.  AVhat  do  they? 

Festus.     Each  strives  to  win  me  to  herself 

Clara.  How  ^ 


FESTUS.  119 

Festus.  Death 

Opens  her  sweet  white  arms  and  whispers,  Peace  I 
Come,  say  thy  sorrows  in  this  hosom !     This 
Will  never  close  against  thee ;    and  my  heart, 
Though  cold,  cannot  he  colder  much  than  man's. 
Come !    All  this  soon  must  end ;  and  soon  the  world 
Shall  perish  leaf  by  leaf,  and  land  by  land ; 
Flower  by  flower  —  flood  by  flood  —  and  hill 
By  hill  away.     Oh!  come,  come!     T^et  us  die. 

Clara.     Say  that  thou  wilt  not  die ! 

Festus.  Nay,  I  love  death. 

But  Immortality,  with  finger  spired. 
Points  to  a  distant,  giant  world  —  and  says, 
There,  there  is  my  home !     Live  along  with  me ! 

Clara.     Canst  see  that  world  ] 

Festus.  Just  —  a  huge,  shadowy  shape; 

It  looks  a  disembodied  orb  —  the  ghost 
Of  some  great  sphere  which  God  hath  stricken  dead : 
Or  like  a  world  which  God  hath  thought  —  not  made. 

Clara.     Follow  her,  Festus !    Does  she  speak  again  1 

Festus.     She  never  speaks  but  once :    and  now,  in 
scorn, 
Points  to  this  dim,  dwarfed,  misbegotten  sphere. 

Clara.     Why  let  her  pass  ] 

Festus.  That  is  the  great  world-question. 

Life  would  not  part  with  me ;  and  from  her  brow 
Tearing  her  wreath  of  passion-flowers,  she  flung 
It  round  my  neck,  and  dared  me  struggle  then. 
I  never  could  destroy  a  flower :  and  none 


120  FESTTJS. 

But  fairest  hands  like  thine  can  grace  with  me 

The  plucking  of  a  rose.     And  Life,  sweet  Life ! 

Vowed  she  would  crop  the  world  for  me,  and  lay  it 

Herself  before  my  feet,  even  as  a  flower. 

And  when  I  felt  that  flower  contained  thyself — 

One  drop  within  its  nectary  kept  for  me, 

I  lost  all  count  of  those  strange  sisters  three ; 

And  where  they  be,  I  know  not.     But  I  see 

One  who  is  more  to  me. 

Clara.  I  know  not  how 

Thou  hast  this  power  and  knowledge.     I  but  hope 
It  comes  from  good  hands;  if  it  be  not  thine 
Own  force  of  mind.     It  is  much  less  what  we  do 
Than  what  we  think,  which  fits  us  for  the  future. 
I  wish  we  had  a  little  world  to  ourselves. 
With  none  but  we  two  in  it. 

Festus.  And  if  God 

Gave  us  a  star,  what  could  we  do  with  it 
But  that  we  could  without  if?     Wish  it  not! 

Clara.  I'll  not  wish,  then,  for  stars  ;  but  I  could 
love 
Some  peaceful  spot  where  we  might  dwell  unknown. 
Where  home-born  joys  might  nestle  round  our  hearts 
As  swallows  round  our  roofs,  —  and  blend  their  sweets 
Like  dewy-tangled  flowerets  in  one  bed. 

Festus.     The  sweetest  joy,  the  wildest  woe,  is  love ; 
Tlie  taint  of  earth,  the  odor  of  the  skies. 
Is  in  it.     Would  that  I  were  aught  but  man  I 
Tlie  death  of  brutes,  the  immortality 


FESTUS.  121 

Of  fiend  or  angel,  better  seems  than  all 
The  doubtful  prospects  of  our  painted  dust. 
And  all  Morality  can  teach  is  —  Bear! 
And  aU  Religion  can  inspire  is  —  Hope  !  — 

Clara.     It  is  enough.     Fruition  of  the  fruit 
Of  the  great  Tree  of  Life  is  not  for  earth. 
Stars  are  its  fruits,  its  lightest  leaf  is  life. 
The  heart  hath  many  sorrows  beside  love, 
Yea,  many  as  the  veins  which  visit  it. 
The  love  of  aught  on  earth  is  not  its  chief. 
Nor  ought  to  be.     Inclusive  of  them  all 
There  is  the  one  main  sorrow,  life ;  —  for  what 
Can  spirit,  severed  from  the  great  one,  God, 
Feel  but  a  grievous  longing  to  rejoin 
Its  infinite  —  its  author  —  and  its  end] 
And  yet  is  life  a  thing  to  be  beloved. 
And  honored  holily,  and  bravely  borne. 
A  man's  life  may  be  all  ease;  and  his  death. 
By  some  dark  chance,  unthought-of  agony :  — 
Or  life  may  be  all  sufiering,  and  decease 
A  flower-like  sleep ;  —  or  both  be  full  of  woe. 
Or  each  comparatively  painless.     Blame 
Not  God  for  inequalities  like  these. 
They  may  be  justified.     How  canst  thou  know? 
They  may  be  only  seeming.     Canst  thou  judge] 
They  may  be  done  away  with  utterly 
By  loving,  fearing,  knowing  God,  the  Truth. 
In  all  distress  of  spirit,  grief  of  heart, 
Bodily  agony,  or  mental  woe, 

16  K 


122  TEST  us. 

Rebuffs  and  vain  assumptions  of  the  world, 
Or  the  poor  spite  of  weak  and  wicked  souls, 
Think  thou  on  God.     Think  what  He  underwent 
And  did  for  us  as  man.     Weigh  thou  thy  cross 
With  Christ's,  and  judge   vhich  were  the  heavier. 
Joy  even  in  thine  anguish ;  —  such  was  His, 
But  measurelessly  more.     Thy  suffering 
Assimilateth  thee  to  Him.     Rejoice! 
Think  upon  what  thou  shalt  be.     Think  on  God. 
Then  ask  thyself,  what  is  the  world,  and  all 
Its  mountainous  inequalities]     Ah,  what! 
Are  not  all  equal  as  dust-atomies  ]  — 

Festus      My  soul's  orb  darkens  as  a  sudden  star, 
Wliich  having  for  a  time  exhausted  earth 
And  half  the  Heavens  of  wonder,  mortally 
Passes  forever,  not  eclipsed,  consumed ;  — 
All  but  a  cloudy  vapor  darkening  there, 
The  very  spot  in  space  it  once  illumed. 
Once  to  myself  I  seemed  a  mount  of  light; 
But  now,  a  pit  of  night.  —  No  more  of  this! 
For  like  a  shipwrecked  stranger  in  a  light-house, 
I  have  looked  down  upon  the  utter  side 
Of  such  thoughts  from  the  leeming  room  of  reason, 
And  beheld  all  beyond  black  roaring  madness. 
Herp  have  I  lain  all  day  in  this  green  nook. 
Shaded  by  larch  and  hornbeam,  ash  and  yew ; 
A  living  well  and  runnel  at  my  feet. 
And  wild  flowers  dancing  to  some  delicate  air ; 
An  um-topped  column  and  its  ivy  wreath 


FESTUS.  123 

Skirting  my  sight  as  thus  I  lie  and  look 

Upon  the  blue,  unchanging,  sacred  skies: 

And  thou,  too,  gentle  Clara,  by  my  side, 

With  lightsome  brow  and  beaming  eye,  and  bright, 

Long,  glorious  locks,  which  drop  upon  thy  cheek 

Like  gold-hued  cloudflakes  on  the  rosy  morn. 

Oh!  when  the  heart  is  full  of  sweets  to  o'erflowing, 

And  ringing  to  the  music  of  its  love, 

Who  but  an  angel  or  an  hypocrite 

Could  speak  or  think  of  happier  states'? 

Clara.  Farewell ! 

Remember  what  thou  saidst  about  the  stars. 

Festus.     Stay.     What  wouldst  say  yet  1      There  is 
something  sad 
Darkens  thy  mind's  disk.     Speak  it. 

Clara.  Nay,  not  now. 

The  dews  are  falling,  and  the  night  draws  nigh. 
Some  other  time. 

Festus.  Why,  now,  love. 

Clara.  Well  then,  this. 

These  vast  unearthly  powers  thou  hast ;  —  let  me 
Assure  mine  own  heart  they  be  innocent. 
If  thou  refuse  this  boon,  I  shall  prejudge 
Those  powers  as  evil ;  but  if  harmless  they. 
Thou  wilt  permit  me  share  or  \dew  the  means. 
I  ask  this,  therefore,  not  from  vain  desire 
Of  prying  into  mysteries,  nor  as  test 
Of  words  of  thine,  —  for  thee  believe  I  truly,  — 
But  as  a  proof  of  love  and  harmlessness, 


124  FESTUS. 

To  view  with  these  same  marvelling  eyes  of  mine 
The  visible  form  of  some  obedient  sprite 
Or  in  vocable  angel ;  —  wilt  thou  1 

Festus.  Ay. 

Wouldst  parley  Luniel  on  her  silver  seat, 
Or  the  star-tiared  Ourania?  for  the  night 
Deepens  in  Heaven,  and  even  now  I  see 
Earth's  cardinal  world-watchers  each  prepare 
His  wing  to  poise  for  Paradisal  flight 
Relieved  by  darker  angel. 

Clara.  None  of  these. 

Behold  yon  star  just  trembling  into  light ; 
Hath  it  a  tutelar  spirit  ] 

Festus.  Yea,  all  stars. 

Clara.     Prepare  thy  spell,  then.     I  would   see   its 
form, 
And  hear  its  voice. 

Festus.  Weird  charm  nor  spell  I  use, 

Nor  incantation.     My  sole  magic,  might. 
Mine  only  sign  this,  this  my  spirit  ring. 
Prayer,  faith,  and  a  pure  heart  can  draw  down  Heaven , 
Most  surely,  then,  one  star.     Kneel  thou  with  me. 
Spirit  of  yon  star  that  now 

Peer'st  through  God's  all-clothing  sky, 
List!  we  need  thee  here  below; 

Leave  thy  mystic  light  on  high. 
By  the  all-compelling  name, 

Thought  alone,  but  uttered  never ; 
Word  in  Heaven  and  earth  the  same, 
Come  thou  now,  and  come  thou  ever! 


FESTUS.  125 

Clara..     I  feel  a  light,  a  voice,  a  power. 
Festus.  Arise !  — 

What  wilt  thou  of  it  ? 

Clara.  Nothing.     Let  it  speak. 

Spirit.     Man's  vital  frame  of  the  elements  is  ta'en, 
And  when  by  sacred  theurgy  of  mind 
He  nature's  robe  can  thread  by  thread  unwind, 
Heaven's  true  celestial  science  then  ye  gain. 
Through  Heaven  and  the  angels,  stars  and  earth. 
The  boundless  justice  of  harmonic  light 
Spreads  through  the  universe  of  death  and  birth: 
For  of  death's  nothingness  is  born  life's  might. 
With  every  earth-lent  ray  of  every  star 
Holy  and  special  influences  are. 
To  such  as  Truth-led  in  Time's  darkest  hour. 
Seek  faithfully  their  sweet  and  brilliant  power. 
Plant  and  planet,  star  and  gem, 
All  are  each  together  bound; 
Consanguineous  with  them 

Man  in  time  state  aye  is  found. 
Rightly  who  his  soul-path  knows 

To  spirit's  universal  way. 
Bathed  in  sundew  shall  repose. 

Brought  by  the  Angel  of  the  day. 
For  as  in  the  sea-bound  river 

Flows  the  force  of  thousand  rills. 
So  its  end  the  great  soul  ever 
In  Eternity  fulfils. 
Clara.     Oh !  I  have  gazed  on  beauty  known  by  none 


126  FESTUS. 

Till  now.     Dizzy  with  light  my  soul.     Spirit! 
Thy  starry  name'? 

Spirit.  Pneumaster. 

Clara.  Where  dost  dwell  1 

Spirit.     I  in  my  star  abide,  yet  oft  in  Heayen. 
Not  where  the  anteformal  seraphs  beam, 
Nor  cherubim  with  winged  countenance,  but 
Where  roll  the  bright  Ophanim ;  —  and  in  clouds 
Of  glory,  wheeling  through  the  infinite  skies — 
A  Heaven-encircling  hurricane  of  light  — 
Form  with  their  wings  a  holy,  living  throne 
Of  the  all-hallowing  Spirit,  chanting  aye 
God's  mercy  thrice  victorious  o'er  the  world  — 
The  mysteries  of  wisdom  —  and  the  bliss 
Of  that  inspiring  light  which  Deity 
Sows  in  the  soul  of  Nature,  stars  and  njen, 
Blest  heirs  of  either  world,  above,  beloved  — 
Below  accepted  ;  —  thither  I  attain. 
For  as  one  God,  so  but  one  nature  is 
The  image  yet  the  opposite  of  God ; 
Although  in  infinite  variousness  as  He, 
Infinite  and  eternal  unity ;  — 
With  these,  and  with  all  holy  essences, 
And  spirit  souls  elect,  I  mix  and  serve, 
All  with  each  order  interpenetrant ; 
For,  humbled  by  the  fall  of  Lucifer, 
No  pride  is  now  in  Heaven,  humility 
Highest  of  virtues  shown  by  God  the  Man. 
T  also,  therefore,  at  thy  first  behest, 


FESTUS.  127 

« 

Immortal  came  to  do  a  mortal's  will : 

Whose  sleep,  all  starred  with  dreams,  tells  oft  of  me, 

And  instant  on  mine  own  bright  ray  return. 

Clara.     Holy  and  lovely  sprite,  be  thou  with  God ! 

Spirit.     And  fare  thou  well,  too. 

Festus.  Go  !  I  do  commend  thee 

To  all  good  angels,  maiden.     They  are  gone. 
The  heavenly  and  the  earthly ;  I  alone. 
Like  a  cold  column  in  the  sunshine,  stand 
Projecting  darkness.     Only  love  makes  live. 
Oh!  why  was  woman  made  so  fair]  or  man 
So  weak  as  to  see  that  more  than  one  had  beauty] 
It  is  impossible  to  love  but  one. 
And  yet  I  dare  not  love  thee  as  I  could; 
For  all  that  the  heart  most  longs  for  and  deserves, 
Passes  the  soonest  and  most  utterly. 
The  moral  of  the  world's  great  fable,  life. 
All  we  enjoy  seems  given  to  deceive,  « 

Or  may  be,  undeceive  us ;  who  cares  which  1 
And  when  the  sum  is  done,  and  we  have  proved  re. 
Why  work  it  over  and  over  still  again  ? 
I  am  not  what  I  would  be.     Hear  me,  God ! 
And  speak  to  me  in  thine  invisible  likeness 
The  wind,  as  once  of  yore.     Let  me  be  pure! 
Oh!  I  wish  I  was  a  pure  child  again. 
As  ere  the  clear  could  trouble  me:  when  life 
Was  sweet  and  calm  as  is  a  sister's  kiss; 
And  not  the  wild  and  whirlwind  touch  of  passion, 
Which,  though  it  hardly  light  upon  the  lip, 


128  FESTUS. 

With  breathless  swiftness  sucks  the  soul  out  of  sight, 

So  that  we  lose  it,  and  all  thought  of  it. 

^Vhat  is  this  life  wherein  Thou  hast  founded  me 

But  a  bright  wheel  which  burns  itself  away. 

Benighting  even  night  with  its  grim  limbs, 

When  it  hath  done,  and  fainted  into  darkness  1 

Flesh  is  but  fiction,  and  it  flies  away; 

The  gaunt  and  ghastly  thing  we  bear  about  us, 

And  which  we  hate,  and  fear  to  look  upon, 

Is  Truth ;  in  death's  dark  likeness  limned  —  no  more. 

Lucifer.     Life  is  the  one  great  truth;    the  fiction, 
death. 
Art  never  satisfied,  but  must  thou  still 
Revel  in  bootless  questings? 

Festus.  Lo  !  I  speak 

To  Heaven,  and  Hell  makes  bold  to  answer  me. 
If  I  confess  me  to  the  stars,  the  earth 
Rumbles  her  caverned  threatenings  at  my  feet; 
Or  midnight  clouds,  low  muttering  in  long  lines, 
Uncomprehended  thunders  stun  mine  ear. 
Callst  thou  this  power  ] 

Lucifer.  Yon  pretty  little  star 

Shines  on  a  vasty  falsehood.     Much  thou  hast 
Of  power  o'er  finite  agencies,  but  none, 
I  tell  thee,  o'er  the  Infinite.     Confess 
Therefore  thine  own  presumption,  and  receive 
Its  measures  in  obedience.     AVhat  wouldst  thou  ] 

Festus.     I  sicken  of  this  mean  and  shadowy  nature 
And  shallow  life. 


FESTUS.  120 

Lucifer.  Well ;  death  is  deep  enough. 

Festus.     I  have  been  told,  and  taught,  and  trained 
to  pray. 
I  pray,  and  have  no  answer.     One  as  well 
Might  wrestle  with  the  wind.     I  feel,  but  lack 
All  power,  as  a  cloud,  which  fears  to  rise. 
Faints  on  the  golden  threshold  of  the  skies  ; 
And  men  suspect  it  as  a  spy  of  night. 

Lucifer.     There's  reason  now  and  then  in  similes. 
Souls  are  like  clouds,  born  of  the  infinite  stock 
Of  ever  formless  essence,  and  their  race 
In  bounteous  beauty  run,  or  ruinous  storm; 
Objects  of  love  and  gladness,  or  of  ill, 
And  wrong,  and  wrath,  as  nature  predicates  ; 
Which  having  blessed  or  blasted  in  their  life. 
Die  and  rejoin  the  universe,  to  rise. 
Like  emanant  dew  on  earth,  in  future  forms 
Of  retributive  nature ;  she  herself 
Being,  and  doing,  and  enduring  all. 

Festus.     This  life  is  as  a  question,  to  the  which 
There  comes  no  answer  save  an  echo. 

Lucifer.  Hark ! 

Festus.     Where   thou  art   all   is  dumb.      I  would 
repent.  — 
What  shall  be  done  to  expiate  offence'? 

Lucifer.     To  sacrifice  a  butterfly  to  the  wind 
Is  all  that  can  be  done  just  now,  I  fear. 
Thou  canst  not  be  both  wise  and  innocent ; 
As  well  expect  thy  life  flood-tide  to  rise 

17 


130  FESTUS. 

Back  from  the  baseless  depths  of  human  death. 
Evil  and  good  are  primarily  immixed, 
Like  the  black  lines  that  thwart  a  ray  of  light; 
Or  checkered  chart  of  old,  sun-dedicate. 
Cheer  up  !     If  virtue  loses,  wisdom  wins. 

Festus.     Good  to  extract  from  evil  were  not  hard ; 
But  to  transmute  all  evil  into  good, 
There  is  the  cross  of  science  and  the  crown. 

"Lucifer.     Set  clouds  on  fire,  —  go  sow  the  sea  with 
sand,  — 
Then  reap  your  crop  of  foam,  and  harvest  it. 

Festus.     Yet  are  they  separable ;  Heaven  and  earth 
Not  more  opposed  in  kind. 

Lucifer.  Bat !  both  are  one. 

Festus.     The  time  shall  come  when  every  e\'il  thing 
From  being  and  remembrance  both  shall  die; 
The  world  one  solid  temple  of  pure  good. 

Lucifer.     Never  while  thou  art  conscious  of  thyself; 
Never  till  from  that  shining  sheaf  of  days 
Which  hangs  behind  Him,  the  Destroyer  plucks 
Earth's  death-day,  and  His  wrath  burns  white  for  aye. 

Festus.     Let  all  the  air  be  lightning,  the  dark  blue 
Of  ever-stretching  space  substantial  fire. 
Still  God  is  good,  still  tends  o'er  those  He  loves. 

Lucifer.     Why,  therefore,  comes  no  answer  to  thy 
prayer  1 

Festus.     It  may  be,  silence  is  the  voice  of  God. 

Lucifer.      Assent    or    dissent :  —  whether    of    the 
twain  ? 


FESTUS.  131 

Festus,     God  hath  refused  me :  wilt  thou  du  it  for 
me? 
Or  shall  I  end  with  both?  remake  myself? 

Ljcifer.      Now,  that   is    the   one    thing   which    I 
cannot  do. 
Am  I  not  open  with  thee?  why  choose  that? 

Festus.      Because  I  will   it.      Thou   art  bound   to 

obey. 
Lucifer.     The  world  bears  marks  of  my  obedience. 
Festus.     Off!  I  am  torn  to  pieces.     Let  me  try 
And  gather  up  myself  into  a  man, 
As  once  I  was.     I  have  done  with  thee  !     Dost  hear  j 
Lucifer.     Thou  canst  not  mean  this. 
Festus.  Once  for  all  —  I  do. 

Lucifer.     It   is   men  who  are  deceivers  —  not   the 
Devil. 
The  first  and  worst  of  all  frauds  is  to  cheat 
One's  self     All  sin  is  easy  after  that. 

Festus.     I   feel   that  we  must   part;   part  now  or 
never ; 
And  I  had  rather  of  the  two  it  were  now. 

Lucifer.     This  is  my  last  walk  through  my  favorit'* 
world : 
And  I  had  hoped  to  have  enjoyed  it  with  thee. 
For  thee  I  quitted  hell;  for  thee  I  warped 
And  shrivelled  up  my  soul  into  a  man: 
For  thee  I  shed  my  shining  wings ;  for  thee 
Put  on  this  mask  of  flesh,  this  mockery 
Of  motion,  and  this  seeming  shape  like  thine. 


182  FESTUS. 

And  by  my  woe,  I  swear  that  were  I  now, 
For  thy  false  heart,  to  give  my  spirit  spring, 
I  would  scatter  soul  and  body  both  to  hell, 
And  let  one  bum  the  other. 

Festus.  If  thou  darest ! 

Lift  but  a  finger  of  a  thought  of  ill 
Against  me,  and  —  thou  durst  not.     Mark,  we  part. 

Lucifer.     Well ;  as  thou  wilt.     Remember  that  thy 
heart 
Will  shed  its  pleasures  as  thine  eye  its  tears; 
And  both  leave  loathsome  furrows. 

Festus.  Thinkest  thou 

That  I  will  have  no  pleasures  without  thee. 
Who  marrest  all  thou  makest,  and  even  more  ] 

Lucifer.     ITiou  canst  not:    save  indeed  some  poor 
trite  thing 
Called  moderation,  every  one  can  have; 
And  modesty,  God  knows,  is  suffering. 

Iestus.     Now  will  I  prove  thee  liar  for  that  w^ord ; 
And  that  the  very  vastest  out  of  hell. 
With  perfect  condemnation  I  abjure 
My  soul;  my  nature  doth  abhor  itself; 
I  have  a  soul  to  spare!  \^Goes 

Lucifer.  A  hundred  I. 

I  have  him  yet:  for  he  is  mine  to  tempt. 
Gold  hath  the  hue  of  hell  flames:  but  for  him 
I  will  lay  some  brilliant  and  delicious  lure 
"Which  shall  be  worth  perdition  to  a  seraph. 
Most  men  glide  quietly  and  deeply  down: 


FESTUS.  133 

Some  seek  the  bottom  like  a  cataract. 

Now  he  shall  find  it,  seek  it  how  he  will. 

None  ever  went  without  once  taking  breath. 

It  is  passion  plunges  men  into  mine  arms ; 

But  it  matters  not;  hell  burns  before  them  all. 

It  is  by  hell-light  they  do  their  chiefest  deeds ; 

And  by  hell-light  they  shine  unto  each  other ; 

And   hell,    through    life's    thick   fog,    glares   red    and 

round ; 
And  but  for  hell  they  would  grope  in  utter  dark. 


Scene  —  The  Surface. 
Lucifer   and  Festtjs. 

Lucifer.     Wilt  ridel 

Festus.  I'll  have  an  hour's  ride. 

Lucifer.     Be  mine  the  steeds !  be  me  the  guide ! 
Come  hither,  come  hither, 
My  brave  black  steed! 
And  thou,  too,  his  fellow, 
Hither  with  speed ! 
Though  not  so  fleet 
As  the  steeds  of  Death, 
Your  feet  are  as  sure, 
Ye  have  long'^'r  breath. 
Ye  have  drawn  the  world 
Without  wind  or  bait, 


134  FESTUS. 

Six  thousand  years, 
And  it  waxeth  late; 
So  take  me  this  once, 
And  again  to  my  home. 
And  rest  ye  and  feast  ye. 
They  come,  they  come. 

Festus.     Tossing  their  manes  iiKe 
Pitchy  surge  ;  and  lashing 
Their  tails  into  a 
Tempest;  their  eyes  flashing. 
Like  shooting  thunderbolts. 

Lucifer.     Come,  know  your  masters,  colts ! 
Up,  and  away! 

Festus.  Hurrah  !  hurrah  ! 

The  noblest  pace  the  world  e'er  sau. 
I  swear  by  Heaven  we'll  beat  the  sun. 
In  the  longest  heat  that  ever  was  run. 
If  we  keep  it  up  as  we  have  begun. 

Lucifer.     I  told  thee  my  steeds 
Were  a  gallant  pair. 

Festus.     And  they  were  not  tiiine, 
They  might  be  divine. 

Lucifer.     Thine  is  named  Ruin; 
And  Darkness  mine. 

Festus.     Like  all  of  thy  deeds, 
Now  that's  unfair. 

Lucifer.     A  civiler  and  gentler  beasc 
Thou  hast  never  crossed  at  least. 
Now,  look  around! 


FESTUS.  135 

Festus.  Why,  this  is  France. 

Nature  is  here  like  a  living  romance. 
Look  at  its  vines,  and  streams,  and  skies. 
Its  glancing  feet,  and  dancing  eyes  ! 

Lucifer.     'Tis  a  strange  nation,  light  yet  strong; 
Fierce  of  heart  and  blithe  of  tongue ; 
Prone  to  change ;  so  fond  of  blood. 
She  wounds  herself  to  quaff  her  own. 

Festus.     Oh!  it's  a  brave  and  lovely  land; 
And  well  deserving  every  good 
Which  others  wish  themselves  alone. 
Could  she  but  herself  command. 

Lucifer.     On !  on !  no  more  delay ! 
Or  we'll  not  ride  round 
The  world  all  day. 

Festus.     Good  horse,  get  off  the  ground ! 

Lucifer.     Sit  firm !  and  if  our  horses  please, 
We  will  take  at  once  the  Pyrenees. 
'Twas  bravely  leapt! 

Festus.     Ay,  this  is  Spain : 
Europe's  last  land 
'Twill  e'er  remain  ; 
Last  in  the  progress  of  the  earth ; 
The  last  in  liberty ; 
The  last  in  wealth  and  worth  ; 
The  last  in  bigotry. 

Lucifer.     Turn  thy  steed,  and  slacken  rein; 
Quick !  we  must  be  back  again ; 
O'er  the  vale  hid  in  the  mountain. 
O'er  the  merry  forest  fountain  ; 


136  FESTUS. 

Ruin  and  Darkness!  we  must  fly 
O'er  crag  and  rift, 
Swift  —  swift  —  swift 
As  the  glance  of  an  eye. 

Festus.     That  is  Italy  —  the  grave 
And  resurrection  of  the  slave. 

Lucifer.     And  there  lies  Greece,  whose  soul, 
Men  say,  hath  fled: 

Festus.     Perhaps  some  God  may  come, 
And  raise  the  dead. 

Lucifer.     Norward  now  we'll  hold  our  course. 
Thine,  I  think,  is  the  bolder  horse; 
But  bear  him  up  with  a  harder  hand! 
Rough  riding,  this,  o'er  Swisserland. 

Festus.     So  all  have  found  it  who  have  tried; 
High  as  their  Alps  the  people's  pride, 
Never  to  have  bowed  before 
The  tyrant  or  the  conqueror. 

Lucifer.     Away,  away !  before  thee  lie 
The  fields  and  floods  of  Germany. 

Festus.     Well  I  love  thee.  Fatherland! 
Sire  of  Europe,  as  thou  art ! 
Be  free!  and  crouch  no  more,  but  stand! 
Thy  noblest  son  will  take  thy  part. 
Oh!  sooner  let  the  mountains  bend 
Beneath  the  clouds,  when  tempests  lower. 
Than  nations  stoop  their  sky-compeering  heads 
In  homage  to  some  petty  despot's  power! 
The  worm  which  suffers  mincing  into  parts, 
May  sprout  forth  heads  and  tails,  but  grows  no  hearts. 


FESTUS.      •  137 

Lucifer.     There  lies  Austria!     Famous  land 
For  fiddlesticks  and  sword-in-hand. 

Festus.      And    Poland,   whom    truly  unhappy   we 
call; 
Unworthy  to  rise  —  unwilling  to  fall. 
Forge  into  swords  thy  feudal  chain ! 
Smite  e'en  the  souls  of  foes  in  twain! 
The  fetters  have  been  bound  in  vain 
Hound  England's  arms:  and  we  are  free 
As  the  souls  of  our  sires  in  Heaven  \A'hich  be. 
That  earth  should  have  so  few 
Men,  fathers,  like  to  you! 

Lucifer.     What  matter  who  be  free  or  slaves? 
For  all  there  is  one  tyranny,  the  grave's; 
Or  freedom,  may  be.     On !  on  !  haste ! 

Festus.     What  land  is  yonder  wide,  white  waste? 

Lucifer.     Ha!  'tis  Prussia's  gentle  realm: 
Whose  sceptre  is  the  sword — whose  crown,  the  helm. 

Festus.     I  swear  by  every  atom  which  exists, 
I  better  love  this  reckless  ride 
O'er  hill  and  forest,  lake  and  river  wide. 
O'er  sunlit  plain  and  through  the  mountain  mists, 
Than  aught  which  thou  hast  given  beside. 

Lucifer.     See  what  a  long,  long  track 
Of  dust  and  fire  behind, 
For  miles  and  miles  aback ! 
And  shrill  and  strong, 
As  we  shoot  along, 

18  t* 


138  FESTUS. 

Whistles  and  whirs, 
Like  a  forest  of  firs 
Falling,  the  cold  north  wind. 

Festus.     Look !  my  way  I  can  only  read 
By  the  sparks  from  the  hoof  of  my  giant  steed. 

Lucifer.     Where  art  thou  now  1 

Festtjs.  In  Tartar  land 

I  know  by  the  deserts  of  salt  and  sand. 
Nor  aim  nor  end  hath  a  wandering  life ; 
Rest  reaps  but  rest,  and  strife  but  strife. 
With  the  nations  round 
They  ne'er  have  mixed ; 
For  good  or  for  ill 
They  stand  all  still ; 
Their  bodies  but  rove, 
Their  minds  are  fixed. 
And  yonder  lies  old  China's  wall. 
Where  gods  of  gold  do  men  inthrall ; 
Gods  whose  gold's  their  only  worth. 

Lucifer.     Well,  is  not  gold  the  god  of  earth? 
Now  southward,  hey!  for  Hindostan! 
The  sun  beats  down  both  beast  and  man. 
Insect  and  herb  for  life  do  gasp ; 
The  river  reeks,  and  faints  the  asp. 

Festus.     But  blithe  are  we, 
And  our  steeds,  I  trow; 
And  the  mane  of  mine 
Yet  bears  the  snow 


FESTUS.  ]3H 

Which  fell  on  us 

By  Caucasus. 

By  the  four  beasts!  but  this  is  wanii. 

Lucifer.     Away!  away! 
Nor  stint  nor  stay ; 
We'll  reach  the  sea  before  yon  storm. 

Festus.     Wilt  take  the  sea '? 

Lucifer.     Ay,  that  will  we! 
And  swim  as  we  ride, 
Our  steeds  astride ; 
Come  leap,  leap  off  with  me ! 

Festus.     What'?  shall  we  leap 
Sheer  off  this  steep, 
A  mile  the  sea  above? 

Lucifer.     Leap  as  to  save 
From  worse  than  a  grave 
The  maid  thou  most  dost  love! 

Festus.      There  is  a  rapture  in  the  headlong  leap, 
The  wedge-like  cleaving  of  the  closing  deep ! 
A  feeling  full  of  hardihood  and  power 
With  which  we  court  the  waters  that  devour. 
Oh !  'tis  a  feeling  great,  sublime,  supreme. 
Like  the  ecstatic  influence  of  a  dream. 
To  speed  one's  way  thus  o'er  the  sliding  plain; 
And  make  a  kindred  being  with  the  main. 

Lucifer.     By  Chaos !  this  is  gallant  sport ; 
A  league  at  every  breath ; 

Methinks  if  I  ever  have  to  die,  • 

« 

I'll  ride  this  rate  to  death. 


140  FESTUS. 

Festds.     Away,  away  upon  the  whitening  tide, 
Like  lover  hasting  to  embrace  his  bride. 
We  hurry  faster  than  the  foam  we  ride. 
Dashing  aside  the  waves  which  round  us  cling, 
With  strength  like  that  which  lifts  an  eagle's  wing 
Where  the  stars  dazzle  and  the  angels  sing. 

Lucifer.     We  scatter  the  spray, 
And  break  through  the  billows. 
As  the  wind  makes  way 
Through  the  leaves  of  willows. 

Festus.      In   vain   they   urge   their   armies   to   the 
fight: 
Their  surge-crests  crumble  'neath  our  stroke  of  might. 
We  meet  and  fear  not ;  mount — now  rise,  now  fall  — 
And  dare,  with  full-nerved  arm,  the  rage  of  all. 
Through  anger-swollen  wave  or  sparkling  spray. 
Nothing  it  recks ;  we  hold  our  perilous  way 
Right  onward !  till  we  feel  the  whirling  brain 
Ring  with  the  maddening  music  of  the  main  ; 
Till  the  fixed  eyeball  strives  and  strains  to  ken, 
Yet  loathes  to  see  the  shore  and  haunts  of  men ; 
And  the  blood,  half  starting  through  each  ridgy  vein, 
In  the  unwieldy  hand  sets  black  with  pain. 
Then  let  the  tempest  cloud  on  cloud  come  spread, 
And  tear  the  stormy  terrors  of  his  head ; 
Let  the  wild  sea-bird  wheel  around  my  brow, 
And  shriek — and  swoop  —  and  flap  her  wing  as  now! 
It  gladdens !  on !  ye  boisterous  billows,  roll ! 
And  keep  my  body ;  ye  have  ta'en  my  soul. 


FESTUS.  141 

Thou  element !  the  type  which  God  hath  given, 
For  eyes  and  hearts  too  earthy,  of  His  Heaven  I 
Were  Heaven  a  mockery,  I  would  never  mourn 
While  o'er  thy  bosom  I  might  still  be  borne; 
While  yet  to  me  the  power  and  joy  were  given 
To  fling  my  breast  on  thine,  and  mingle  earth  with 
Heaven. 

Lucifer.     See  yonder !  now  we  quit  the  main ; 
For  here's  the  Cape,  here's  land  again, — 
And  scour  we  must  o'er  Afric's  plain. 

Festus.     Away,  away!  on  either  hand 
Nor  town,  nor  tower, 
Nor  shade,  nor  shower  — 
Nothing  but  sun  and  sand. 

Lucifer.     See,  there  they  are !  I  knew,  right  soon, 
We  would  light  on  the  mountains  of  the  moon. 
Over  them !  over,  nought  forbids ! 

Festus.     Yonder  the  Nile  and  the  Pyramids? 
Hurrah!   by  my  soul! 
At  every  bound 
T  see,  I  feel 
The  earth  rush  round. 
1  see  the  mountains  slide  away  — 
That  side  night,  and  this  side  day. 

Lucifer.     Shall  we  go  to  America? 

Festus.     Wliy,  have  we  time? 

Lucifer.  Oh,  plenty; 

Be  there,  too,  ere  we  reckon  twenty. 


142  FESTUS. 

Another  run,  another  bound! 

And  we  shall  leave  this  lion  ground. 

Festus.     The  sea  again !  the  swift,  bright  sea ! 

Lucifer.     Hold  hard,  and  follow  me. 
Well,  now  we  have  travelled  upon  the  waves, 
Wilt  travel  a  time  beneath] 
And  visit  the  sea-born  in  their  caves ; 
And  look  on  the  rainbow-tinted  wreath 
Of  weeds,  beset  with  pearls,  wherewith 
The  mermaid  binds  her  long,  green  hair, 
Or  rouse  the  sea-snake  from  his  lair? 

Festus.     Ay,  ay !   down  let  us  dive ! 

Lucifer.     Look  up !  we  lack  not  stars  ; 
And  every  star  thou  seest's  alive: 
A  little  globe  of  life  —  light  —  love. 
Whose  every  atom  is  a  living  being; 
Each  the  other's  bosom  seeing. 
Each  enlightening  the  other. 

Festus.     Oh !  how  unlike  the  world  above, 
Where  each  doth  mainly,  vainly  strive 
To  dim  or  to  outshine  his  brother! 

Lucifer.     Come  on !  come  on ! 

Festus.  Are  those  bright  spars. 

Or  eyes  of  things  which  ne'er  forgive, 
That  seem  to  play  on  us,  and  glare 
With  rage  that  we  so  far  should  dare 
To  search  the  hidden  deeps, 
^Vhere  tide,  the  moon  slave,  sleeps  ? 


FESTUS.  148 

Where  the  wind  breathes  not,  and  the  wave 

Walks  softly,  as  above  a  grave;  — 

Where  coral  worms,  in  countless  nations, 

Build  rocks  up  from  the  sea's  foundations ;  — 

Where  the  islands  strike  their  roots 

Far  from  the  old  mainland ; 

And  spring  like  desert  fruits, 

Shook  off  by  God's  strong  hand, 

Up  from  their  bed  of  sand. 

Look,  listen !  there  is  music  in  the  cave. 

Where  ocean  sleeps,  and  brightness  in  the  wave 

The  sea-bird  makes  its  pillow,  and  the  star. 

Last  born  of  Heaven,  its  azure  mirror;  —  far 

And  wide,  the  pale,  fine,  fire  of  ocean  flows, 

Softly  sublime  like  lightnings  in  repose  — 

Till  roused  anon,  afar  its  flaming  spray  it  throNVji. 

liUCiFER.     There!  now  we  stand 
On  the  world' s-end  land ! 
Over  the  hills 
Away  we  go  ! 
Through  fire,  and  snow, 
And  rivers,  whereto 
All  others  are  rills. 

Festus.     Through  the  lands  of  silver. 
The  lands  of  gold ; 
Through  lands  untrodden, 
And  lands  untold. 

Lucifer.     By  strait  and  bay 
We  must  away; 


1 44  F  E  S  T  U  S . 

Through  swamp  and  plain, 
And  hurricane; 

Festus.     And  that  dark  cloud  of  slaves 
"Which  yet  may  rise  ;  — 
Though  nought  shall  blot  the  bannered  stars 
From  Freedom's  skies. 
America !  half-brother  of  the  world ! 
With  something  good  and  bad  of  every  land; 
Greater  than  thee  have  lost  their  seat  — 
Greater  scarce  none  can  stand. 
Thy  flag  now  flouts  the  skies, 
The  highest  under  Heaven  ; 
Save  the  red  cross,  w^hereto  are  given 
All  victories. 

Lucifer.     Our  horses  snort  and  snuff  the  sea, 
And  pant  for  where  we  ought  to  be. 

Festus.     Well,  here  we  are;  and  as  we  flew  in, 
I  said,  let  Darkness  follow  Ruin ! 

Lucifer.     'Twas  right.     Spur  on !    Come,  Darkness, 
come ! 
Think  of  thy  well-strown  stall! 

Festus.     For  me,  I  care  not  what's  to  come. 
Nor  for  the  fate  by  which  I  fall ; 
But  I  would  that  T  were  Ocean's  son, 
The  solitary  brave. 
Like  yon  sea-snake,  to  climb  upon 
The  crest  of  the  bounding  wave. 
Oh!  happy,  if  at  last  I  lie 
Within  some  pearled  and  coral  cave; 


FESTUS.  iio 

"V^Hiile  overhead  the  booming  surge 
And  moaning  billow  shall  chant  my  dirge; 
And  the  storm-blast,  as  it  sweepeth  by, 
Shall,  answering,  howl  to  the  mermaid's  sigh, 
And  the  night  wind's  mournful  minstrelsy, 
Their  requiem  over  my  grave. 

Lucifer.     Through  mom  and  midnight,  sunset  and 
high  noon. 
One  hour  hath  ta'en  us ;  —  o'er  all  land  and  sea, 
O'er  opening  earthquake  and  iceberg,  have  we 
Swept  in  swift  safety.     'Twill  be  over  soon. 
Behold  the  common,  narrow  sea, 
Which,  like  a  strong  man's  arm. 
Keeps  back  two  foes  whose  lips  are  white. 
Whose  hearts  with  rage  are  warm. 

Festus.     England!  my  country,  great  and  free! 
Heart  of  the  world,  I  leap  to  thee. 
How  shall  my  country  fight 
When  her  foes  rise  against  her. 
But  with  thine  arm,  O  Sea! 
The  arm  which  thou  lent'st  her] 
Where  shall  my  country  be  buried 
When  she  shall  die  1 
Earth  is  too  scant  for  her  grave : 
Where  shall  she  lie'^ 
She  hath  brethren  more  than  a  hundred. 
And  they  all  want  room; 
They  may  die  and  may  lie  where  they  live  — 
They  shall  not  mix  with  her  doom. 
Where,  but  within  thine  arms, 

19 


I'^G  FESTUS. 

0  Sea,  O  Sea] 

Wherein  she  hath  lived  and  gloried. 

Let  her  rest  be! 

We  will  rise  and  will  say  to  the  sea, 

Flow  over  her ! 

We  will  cry  to  the  depths  of  the  deep. 

Cover  her! 

The  world  hath  drawn  his  sword. 

And  his  red  shield  drips  before  him:  — 

But,  my  country,  rise! 

Thou  canst  never  die 

While  a  foe  hath  life  to  fly ; 

Rise  land,  and  gore  him ! 

Lucifer.     Now  get  on  land,  and  hie  along 
O'er  forest,  copse,  and  glade; 
We  nave  out  a  league  or  two  more  to  go 
Before  our  journey's  made  ; 
With  speed  that  flings  the  sun  into  the  shade 

Festus.     See  the  gold  sunshine  patching, 
And  streaming  and  streaking  across 
The  gray-green  oaks  ;  and  catching. 
By  its  soft  brown  beard,  the  moss. 

Lucifer.     Ah!  here  we  get  an  open  plain: 
Here  we'll  get  down. 
Away,  good  steeds !  be  off  again ! 

Festus.     AVe  must  be  near  to  town. 

1  am  bound  to  thee  forever 
By  the  pleasure  of  this  day; 
Henceforth  we  will  never  sever. 
Come  what  come  mav. 


FESTUS.  147 

Scene  —  A   Village  Feast  —  Evening, 
Festus,  Lucifer,  and  others. 

Festus.     It  is  getting  dark.     One  has  to  walk  quite 
close 
To  see  the  pretty  faces  that  we  meet, 

Lucifer.     A  disagreeable  necessity. 
Truly. 

Festus.     We'll  rest  upon  this  bridge.     I  am  tired. 
Yon  tall,  slim  tree !  does  it  not  seem  as  made 
For  its  place  there,  a  kind  of  natural  maypole  1  — 
Beyond,  the  lighted  stalls  stored  with  the  good 
Things  of  our  childhood's  world;  and  behind  them, 
The  shouting  showman  and  the  clashing  cymbal ; 
The  open-doored  cottages  and  blazing  hearth, — 
The  little  ones  running  up  with  naked  feet, 
And  cake  in  either  hand,  to  their  mother's  lap, — 
Old  and  young  laughing,  schoolboys  with  their  play- 
things. 
Clowns  cracking  jokes,  and  lasses  with  sly  eyes. 
And  the  smiles  settling  in  their  sunflecked  cheeks, 
Like  noon  upon  the  mellow  apricot, — 
Make  up  a  scene  I  can  for  once  give  in  to. 
It  must  please  all,  the  social  and  the  selfish. 
Are  they  not  happy  ? 

Lucifer.  Why,  it  matters  not. 

They  seem  so :   that's  enough. 


148  FESTUS. 

Festus.  But  not  the  same. 

Lucifer.     Yet  truth  and  falsehood  meet  in  seeming, 
like 
The  falling  leaf  and  shadow  on  the  pool's  face. 
And  these  are  joys,  like  beauty,  but  skin  deep. 

Festus.     Remove  all  such,   and  what's   the  joy  of 
earth  ] 
It  is  they  create  the  appetite  of  life  — 
Give  zest  and  relish  to  the  lot  of  millions. 
And  take  the  taste  for  them  away  —  what's  left] 
A  dry,  ungainly  skeleton  of  soul. 

Lucifer.     Power  is  aye  above  the  soul,  and  joy 
Below  it.     Pleasure  men  prefer  to  power. 

[^Children  at  Play. 

Festus.     Play  away,  good  ones !     I  could  romp  with 
you. 
To  look  upon  the  fair  face  of  a  child 
Feels  like  a  resurrection  of  the  heart. 
Children  are  vast  in  blessings  ;  kings  and  queens 
According  to  the  dynasties  of  Love. 
The  might  and  the  delight  of  nations  lies 
In  them,  and  for  them  earth  is  what  it  is. 

Lucifer.     Another  row  of  dragon's  teeth !  a  row 
Of  grinders,  look  ye. 

An  old  Man.  Pity  the  poor,  blind  man! 

Festus.     Here  is  substantial  pity. 

Old  Man.  Heaven  reward  you ! 

Festus.      Blind    as    the    blue    skies    after    sunset. 
Blind! 


FESTUS.  149 

And  I  am  tired  of  looking  on  what  is. 

One  might  as  well  see  beauty  nevermore, 

As  look  upon  it  with  an  empty  eye. 

I  would  this  world  were  over.     I  am  tired. 

Nought  happens  but  what  happens  to  one's  self; 

And  all  hath  happened  I  have  wished,  and  more. 

Our  pleasures  all  pass  from  us,  one  by  one. 

With  that  relief  which  sighing  gives  the  heart. 

Though  each  sigh  leaves  it  lower.     It  is  sad 

To  think  how  few  our  pleasures  really  are; 

And  for  the  which  we  risk  eternal  good. 

There's  nothing  that  can  satisfy  one's  self, 

Except  one's  self     Well,  it  is  very  sad. 

And  by  the  time  we  come  of  age  we  have  felt, 

In  one  degree  or  other,  all  that  age 

Can  offer.     We  have  reaped  our  field  ere  noon. 

The  rest  is  reproduction;  sowing  —  reaping  — 

Losing  again.     Toil  and  gain  tu'e  alike. 

We  cannot  live  too  slowly  to  be  good 

And  happy,  nor  too  much  by  line  and  square. 

But  youth  is  burning  to  forestall  its  nature. 

And  will  not  wait  for  Time  to  ferry  it 

Over  the  stream,  but  flings  itself  into 

The  flood,  and  perishes.     And  yet,  why  not? 

There  is  no  charm  in  time  as  time,  nor  good. 

The  long  days  are  no  happier  than  the  short  ones. 

'Tis  sometime  now  since  I  was  here.     We  leave 

Our  home  in  youth  —  no  matter  to  what  end;  — 

Study — or  strife  —  or  pleasure,  or  what  not; 


150  FESTUS. 

And  coming  back  in  few  short  years,  we  find 

All  as  we  left  it,  outside;  the  old  elms. 

The  house,  grass,  gates,  and  latchef  s  selfsame  click ; 

But  lift  that  latchet,  —  all  is  changed  as  doom: 

The  servants  have  forgotten  our  step,  and  more 

Than  half  of  those  who  knew  us  know  us  not. 

Adversity,  prosperity,  the  grave. 

Play  a  round  game  with  friends.     On  some  the  world 

Hath  shot  its  evil  eye,  and  they  are  passed 

From  honor  and  remembrance,  and  a  stare 

Is  all  the  mention  of  their  names  receives  ; 

And  people  know  no  more  of  them  than  of 

The  shapes  of  clouds  at  midnight,  a  year  back. 

Lucifer.     Let  us  move  on  to  where  the  dancing  is  ; 
We  soon  shall  see  how  happy  they  all  are. 
Here  is  a  loving  couple  quarrelling; 
And  there  another.     It  is  quite  distressing. 
See  yonder.     Two  men  fighting ! 

Festus.  What  avail 

These  vile  exceptions  to  the  rule  of  joy] 

Lucifer.     Behold    the   -happiness    of   which    thou 
spakest ! 
The  highest  hills  are  miles  below  the  sky ; 
And  so  far  is  the  lightest  heart  below 
True  happiness. 

Festus.  This  is  a  snake-like  world, 

And  always  hath  its  tail  within  its  mouth. 
As  if  it  ate  itself,  and  moralled  time. 
The  world  is  like  yon  children's  merry-go-round  ; 


FESTUS.  151 

AVhat  men  admire  are  carriages  and  hobbies, 

Which  the  exalted  manikins  enjoy. 

There  is  a  noisy,  ragged  crowd  below 

Of  urchins  drives  it  round,  who  only  get- 

The  excitement  for  their  pains  —  best  gain,  perhaps: 

For  it  is  not  they  who  labor  that  grow  dizzy 

Nor  sick  —  that's  for  the  idle,  proud  above. 

Who  soon  dismount,  more  weary  of  enjoying 

Than  those  below  of  working ;  and  but  fair. 

It  is  wretchedness  or  recklessness  alone 

Keeps  us  alive.     Were  we  happy,  we  should  die. 

Yet  what  is  death?     I  like  to  think  on  death: 

It  is  but  the  appearance  of  an  apparition. 

One  ought  to  tremble ;  but  oughts  stand  for  nothing. 

I  hate  the  thought  of  wrinkling  up  to  rest; 

The  toothlike  aching  ruin  of  the  body. 

With  the  heart  all  out,  and  nothing  left  but  edge. 

Give  me  the  long,  high-bounding  feel  of  life, 

Which  cries.  Let  me  but  leap  unto  my  grave, 

And  I'U  not  mind  the  when  nor  where.     We  never 

Care  less  for  life  than  when  enjoying  it. 

Oh!  I  should  love  to  die.     What  is  to  die? 

I  cannot  hold  the  meaning  more  than  can 

An  oak's  arms  clasp  the  blast  that  blows  on  it 

There  is  an  air-like  something  which  must  be 

And  yet  not  to  be  seen,  nor  to  be  touched. 

I  am  made  up  to  die;   for,  having  been 

Every  thing,  there  is  nothing  left  but  nothing 

To  be  again. 


152  FESTUS. 

Lucifer.     Hark!  here's  a  ballad-singer. 
Ballad-singer.     All  of  my  own  composing ! 
Festus.  Yes,  yes  —  we  know. 

Singer.     My  gypsy  maid!  my  gypsy  maid! 
I  bless  and  curse  the  day 
I  lost  the  light  of  life,  and  caught 
The  grief  which  maketh  gray. 
Would  that  the  light  which  blinded  me 
Had  saved  me  on  my  way! 

My  night-haired  love!  so  sweet  she  was,- 
So  fair  and  blithe  was  she; 
Her  smile  was  brighter  than  the  moon's, 
Her  eyes  the  stars  might  see. 

I  met  her  by  her  lane-spread  tent, 

Beside  a  moss-green  stone, 

And  bade  her  make,  not  mock,  my  fate; 

My  fortune  was  her  own. 

Thou  art  but  yet  a  boy,  she  said. 

And  I  a  woman  grown. 

I  am  a  man  in  love,  I  cried; 

My  heart  was  early  manned: 

She  smiled,  and  only  drooped  her  eyes, 

And  then  let  go  my  hand. 

We  stood  a  minute:  neither  spake 

What  each  must  understand. 


FESTUS.  153 

/ 

I  told  her,  so  she  would  be  mine 
And  follow  where  I  went, 
She  straight  should  have  a  bridal  bower 
Instead  of  gypsy  tent. 

Or  would  she  have  me  wend  with  her, 
The  world  between  should  fall; 
For  her  I  would  fling  up  faith  and  friends, 
And  name,  and  fame,  and  all. 

Her  smile  so  bright  froze  while  I  spake, 
And  ice  was  in  her  eye; 
So  near,  it  seemed  ere  touch  her  heart 
I  might  have  kissed  the  sky. 

I  said  that  if  she  loved  to  rule. 

Or  if  she  longed  to  reign, 

I  would  make  her  Queen  of  every  race 

Which  tear-like  trode  the  world's  sad  face. 

Or  bleed  at  every  vein. 

She  laid  her  finger  on  her  lip, 
And  pointed  to  the  sky ; 
There  is  no  God  to  come,  she  said: 
Dost  thou  not  fear  to  die] 

And  what  is  God,  I  said,  to  thee? 
Thy  people  worship  not. 

20 


154  FESTUS. 

The  good,  the  happy,  and  the  free, 
She  said,  they  need  no  God. 

I  looked  until  I  lost  mine  eyes ; 

I  felt  as  though  I  were 

In  a  dark  cave,  with  one  weak  light  — 

The  light  of  life  —  with  her; 

And  that  was  wasting  fast  away ; 

I  watched,  but  would  not  stir. 

Again  she  took  my  hand  in  hers, 
And  read  it  o'er  and  o'er; 
Ah!  eyes  so  young,  so  sweet,  I  said, 
Make  as  they  read  love's  lore.. 

She  held  my  hand — ^I  trembled  whilst  — 
For  sorely  soon  I  felt 
She  made  the  love-cross  she  foretold, 
And  all  the  woe  she  dealt. 

Unhappy  I  should  be,  she  said. 
And  young  to  death  be  given: 
I  told  her  I  believed  in  her. 
Not  in  the  stars  of  Heaven. 

Hush !  we  breathe  Heaven,  she  s^id,  and  bowed 
And  the  stars  speak  through  me.. 
Let  Heaven,  I  cried,  take  care  of  Heaven ! 
I  only  care  for  thee. 


FESTUS.  15a 

She  shrank:  I  looked,  and  begged  a  kiss; 
I  knew  she  had  one  for  me; 
She  would  deny  me  none,  she  said. 
But  give  me  none  would  she. 

My  gypsy  maid !  my  gypsy  maid ! 
'Tis  three  long  years  like  this 
Since  there  I  gave  and  got  from  thee 
That  meeting,  parting  kiss. 

I  saw  the  tears  start  in  her  eye, 
And  trickle  down  her  cheek ; 
Like  falling  stars  across  the  sky, 
Escaping  from  their  Maker's  eye: 
I  saw,  but  spared  to  speak. 

Go,  and  forget !  she  said,  and  slid 
Below  her  lowly  tent ; 
I  will  not,  cannot; — hear  me,  girl! 
She  heard  not,  and  I  went. 

At  eve,  by  sunset,  I  was  there, 

The  tent  was  there  no  more; 

The  fire  which  warmed  her  flickered  still  — 

The  fire  she  sat  before. 

I  stood  by  it,  till  through  the  dark 
I  saw  not  where  it  lay; 
And  then,  like  that,,  my  heart  went  ont 
In  ashy  grief  and  gray. 


156  FESTUS. 

My  gypsy  maid !  my  gypsy  maid ! 
Oh !  let  me  bless  this  day ; 
This  day  it  was  I  met  thee  first, 
And  yet  it  shall  be  and  is  cursed, 
For  thou  hast  gone  away. 

Lucifer.     Another,  please — not  quite   so   gloomy, 

friend. 
Girl.     I  wonder  if  the  tale  it  tells  be  true. 
Singer.     I  dare  say  —  but  you  want  a  merrier. 
Every  man's  life  has  its  apocrypha; 
Mine  has,  at  least.      I  have  said  more  than  need  be. 
It  happened,  too,  when  I  was  very  young. 
We  never  meet  such  gypsies  when  we  are  old; 
And  yet  we  more  complain  of  youth  than  age. 
Now,  make  a  ring,  good  people.     Let  me  breathe  ! 

\_Sings. 
Oh !  the  wee  green  neuk,  the  sly  green  neuk, 

The  wee  sly  neuk  for  me! 
Whare  the  wheat  is  wavin'  bright  and  brown, 

And  the  wind  is  fresh  and  free. 
Whare  I  weave  wild  weeds,  and  out  o'  reeds 

Kerve  whissles  as  I  lay ; 
And  a  douce  low  voice  is  murmurin'  by 
Through  the  lee-lang  simmer  day. 
Oh!  the  wee  green  neuk,  &c. 

And  whare  a'  things  luik  as  though  they  iced 
To  languish  in  the  sun; 


FESTUS.  157 

And  that  if  they  feed  the  fire  they  dree, 

They  wadna  ae  pang  were  gone. 
Whare  the  lift  aboon  is  still  as  death, 

And  bright  as  life  can  be; 
While  the  douce  low  voice  says,  Na,  na,  na ! 

But  ye  mauna  luik  sae  at  me. 
Oh!  the  wee  green  neuk,  &c. 

Whare  the  lang  rank  bent  is  saft  and  cule, 

And  freshenin'  tiU  the  feet; 
And  the  spot  is  sly,  and  the  spinnie  high, 

Whare  my  luve  and  I  mak  seat: 
And  I  tease  her  till  she  rins,  and  then 

I  catch  her  roun'  the  tree; 
While  the  poppies  shak'  their  heids  and  blush: 

Let  'em  blush  till  they  drap,  for  me! 
Oh !  the  wee  green  neuk,  &c. 

Festus.     And  all  who  know  such  feelings  and  such 
scenes 
Will,  I  am  sure,  reward  you.     Here  —  take  this. 

Others.     And  this,  and  this — too! 

Singer.     Thank  ye  all,  good  friends! 

Festus.     There's  much   that   has  no  merit   but   its 
truth. 
And  no  excuse  but  nature.     Nature  does 
Never  wrong :  'tis  society  which  sins. 
Look  on  the  bee  upon  the  wing  among  flowers; 
How  brave,  how  bright  his  life !    Then  mark  him  hived, 


158  FESTUS. 

Cramped,  cringing  in  his  self-built  social  cell. 
Thus  is  it  in  the  world-hive:   most  where  men 
Lie  deep  in  cities  as  in  drifts  —  death-drifts, 
Nosing  each  other  like  a  flock  of  sheep; 
Not  knowing  and  not  caring  whence  nor  whither 
They  come  or  go,  so  that  they  fool  together. 

Lucifer.     It  is  quite  fair  to  halve  these  lives,  and 
say 
This  side  is  nature's,  that  society's. 
When  both  are  side-views  only  of  one  thing. 

Farmer.     I  am  glad  to  see  you  come  among  us,  sir. 

Parson.     Why,  I  have  but  little  comfort  in  these 
pastimes ; 
And  any  heart,  turned  Godwards,  feels  more  joy 
In  one  short  hour  of  prayer,  than  e'er  was  raised 
By  all  the  feasts  on  earth  since  their  foundation. 
But  no  one  will  believe  us ;  as  if  we 
Had  never  known  the  vain  things  of  the  world, 
Nor  lain  and  slept  in  sin's  seducing  shade. 
Listless,  until  God  woke  us ;  made  us  feel 
We  should  be  up  and  stirring  in  the  sun ; 
For  every  thing  had  to  be  done  ere  night. 
What  is  all  this  joy  and  jollity  about] 
Grant  there  may  be  no  sin.     What  good  is  it? 

Farmer.     I  can't  defend  these  feasts,  sir,  and  can't 
blame. 

Parson.     Good  evening,  friends !     Why,  Festus !  T 
rejoice 
We  meet  again.     I  have  a  young  friend  here, 


FESTUS.  159 

A  student  —  who  hath  staid  with  us  of  late. 

You  would  be  glad,  I  know,  to  know  each  other ; 

Therefore  be  known  so. 

Festus.  You  are  a  student,  sir. 

Student.     I  profess  little ;  but  it  is  a  title 
A  man  may  claim  perhaps  with  modesty. 

Festus.     True.     All   mankind   are  students.     How 
to  live 
And  how  to  die  forms  the  great  lesson  still. 
I  know  what  study  is:  it  is  to  toil 
Hard,  through  the  hours  of  the  sad  midnight  watch, 
At  tasks  which  seem  a  systematic  curse, 
And  course  of  bootless  penance.     Night  by  night. 
To  trace  one's  thought  as  if  on  iron  leaves ; 
And  sorrowful  as  though  it  were  the  mode 
And  date  of  death  we  wrote  on  our  own  tombs: 
Wring  a  slight  sleep  out  of  the  couch,  and  see 
The  selfsame  moon  which  lit  us  to  our  rest, 
Her  place  scarce  changed  perceptibly  in  Heaven. 
Now  light  us  to  renewal  of  our  toils. — 
This,  to  the  young  mind,  wild  and  all  in  leaf. 
Which  knowledge  grafting,  paineth.    Fruit  soon  com<  r. 
And  more  than  all  our  troubles  pays  us  powers  ; 
So  that  we  joy  to  have  endured  so  much: 
That  not  for  nothing  have  we  slaved  and  slain 
Ourselves  almost.     And  more;  it  is  to  strive 
To  bring  the  mind  up  to  one's  own  esteem: 
Who  but  the  generous  faill     It  is  to  think. 
While  thought  is  standing  thick  upon  the  bra'r 


IbO  FESTUS. 

As  dew  upon  the  brow  —  for  thought  is  brain-sweat  — 
And   gathering  quick  and  dark,  like   storms  in  sum- 
mer, 
Until  convulsed,  condensed,  in  lightning  sport. 
It  plays  upon  the  heavens  of  the  mind, — 
Opens  the  hemisphered  abysses  here. 
And  we  become  revealers  to  ourselves. 

Student.     When  night  hath  set  her  silver  lamp  on 
high, 
Then  is  the  time  for  study ;  when  Heaven's  light 
Pours  itself  on  the  page,  like  prophecy 
On  time,  unglooming  all  its  mighty  meanings; 
It  is  then  we  feel  the  sweet  strength  of  the  stars, 
And  magic  of  the  moon. 

Lucifer.  It's  a  bad  habit. 

Student.      And  wisdom   dwells   in   secret,   and   on 
high. 
As  do  the  stars.     The  sun's  diurnal  glare 
Is  for  the  daily  herd ;  but  for  the  wise. 
The  cold  pure  radiance  of  the  night-bom  light. 
Wherewith  is  inspiration  of  the  truth. 
There  was  a  time  when  I  would  never  go 
To  rest  before  the  sun  rose;   and  for  that, 
Through  a  like  length  of  time  as  that  now  gone, 
The    world    shall    speak    of   me   six   thousand    years 
hence. 

Lucifer.     How  know  ye  that  the  world  won't  end 
to-morrow  ] 

Pau&on.     I  now,  an  early  riser,  love  to  hail 


FESTUS.  161 

The  dreamy  struggles  of  the  stars  with  light, 
And  the  recovering  breath  of  earth,  sleep-drowned. 
Awakening  to  the  wisdom  of  the  sun, 
And  life  of  light  within  the  tent  of  Heaven ;  — 
To  kiss  th.e  feet  of  Morning  as  she  walks 
In  dewy  light  along  the  hills,  while  they. 
All  odorous  as  an  angel's  fresh-culled  crown, 
Unveil  to  her  their  bounteous  loveliness. 

Student.     I  am  devote  to  study.     Worthy  books 
Are  not  companions — they  are  solitudes: 
We  lose  ourselves  in  them,  and  all  our  cares. 
The  further  back  we  search  the  human  mind, — 
Mean  in  the  mass,  but  in  the  instance  great, — 
Which  starting  first  with  deities  and  stars 
And  broods  of  beings  earth-born,  Heaven-begot, 
And  all  the  bright  side  of  the  broad  world,  now 
Doats  upon  dreams,  and  dim  atomic  truths. 
Is  all  for  comfort,  and  no  more  for  glory  — , 
The  nobler  and  more  marvellous  it  shows. 
Trifles  like  these  make  up  the  present  time ; 
The  Iliad  and  the  Pyramids  the  past. 

Festus.     The  future  will  have  glory  not  the  less. 
I  can  conceive  a  time  when  the  world  shall  be 
Much  better  visibly,  and  when,  as  far 
As  social  life  and  its  relations  tend. 
Men,  morals,  manners  shall  be  lifted  up 
To  a  pure  height  we  know  not  of  nor  dream ;  — 
When  all  men's  rights  and  duties  shall  be  clear. 
And  charitably  exercised  and  home ; 

21  X  * 


162  FESTUS. 

When  education,  conscience,  and  good  deeds 
Shall  have  just  equal  sway,  and  civil  claims ;  — 
Great  crimes  shall  be  cast  out,  as  were  of  old 
Devils  possessing  madmen: — Truth  shall  reign, 
Nature  shall  be  rethroned,  and  man  sublimed. 

Student.     Oh !  then  may  Heaven  come  down  again 
to  earth ; 
And  dwell  with  her,  as  once,  like  to  a  friend. 

Lucifer.     As  like  each  other  as  a  sword  and  scythe. 
Oh!   then  shall  lions  mew  and  lambkins  roar. 

Festus.     And  having  studied — what  next] 

Student.  Much  I  long 

To  view  the  capital  city  of  the  world. 
The  mountains,  the  great  cities,  and  the  sea, 
Are  each  an  era  in  the  life  of  youth. 

Festus.     There  to  get  worldly  ways,  and  thoughts, 
and  schemes ; 
To  learn  to  detect,  distrust,  despise  mankind  — 
To  ken  a  false,  factitious  glare,  amid  much 
That  shines  with  seeming  saint-like  purity — 
To  gloss  misdeeds — to  trifle  with  great  truths  — 
To  pit  the  brain  against  the  heart,  and  plead 
Wit  before  wisdom,  —  these  are  the  world's  ways: 
It  learns  us  to  lose  that  in  crowds  which  we 
Must  after  seek  alone  —  our  innocence; 
And  when  the  crowd  is  gone. 

Student.  Not  only  that: 

There  all  great  things  are  round  one.     Interests, 
Mighty  and  mountainous  of  estimate, 


FESTUS.  163 

Are  daily  heaped  or  scattered  'neath  the  eye. 

Great  deeds,  great  thoughts,  great  schemes,  and  crimes, 

and  all 
Which  is  in  purpose,  or  in  practice,  great 
Of  human  nature  —  there  are  common  things. 
Men  make  themselves  be  deathless  as  in  spite ; 
As  if  they  waged  some  lineal  feud  with  time ; 
As  though  their  fathers  were  immortal,  too, 
And  immortality  an  every-day 
Accomplishment. 

Festus.  Fie!  fie!  'tis  more  for  this: 

Amid  gayer  people  and  more  wanton  ways, 
To  give  a  loose  to  all  the  lists  of  youth  — 
To  train  your  passion  flowers  high  ahead. 
And  bind  them  on  your  brow  as  others  do. 
The  mornlit  revel,  and  the  shameless  mate  — 
The  tabled  hues  of  darkness  and  of  blood  — 
The  published  bosom,  and  the  crowning  smile  — 
The  cup  excessive ;  and  if  aught  there  be 
More  vain  than  these  or  wanton — that  to  have  — 
Have  all  but  always  m  intent,  eflect, 
Or  fact.     Nay,  nay,  deny  it  not:  I  know. 
Youth  hath  a  strange  and  strong  desire  to  try 
All  feelings  on  the  heart:  it  is  very  wrong, 
And  dangerous,  and  deadly:   strive  against  it! 

Student.     It  might  be  some  old  sage  was  warning  t... 

Festus.     Youth  might  be  wdse.    We  sufler  less  froru 
pains 
Than  pleasures. 


164  FESTUS. 

Student.  I  should  like  to  see  the  world, 

And  gain  that  knowledge  which  is  — 

Festus.  Barrener 

Than  ice ;  possessing  and  producing  nought 
But  means  and  forms  of  death  or  vanity. 
The  world  is  just  as  hollow  as  an  eggshell. 
It  is  a  surface,  not  a  solid,  mind: 
And  all  this  boasted  knowledge  of  the  world 
To  me  seems  but  to  mean  acquaintance  with 
Low  things,  or  evil,  or  indifferent. 

Farmer.     Much   more   is    said  of   knowledge  than 
it's  worth. 
A  man  may  gain  all  knowledge  here,  and  yet 
Be,  after  death,  as  much  in  the  dark  as  I. 

Lucifer.     What  makes   you   know  of  living  after 
death  1 

Farmer.     Why,  nothing   that  I  know;    and  there 
it  is  ;  — ■ 
But  something  I  am  told  has  told  me  so. 
No  angel  ever  came  to  me  to  prove  it ; 
And  all  my  friends  have  died,  and  left  no  ghosts. 

Festus.      All   that  is  good  a  man  may  learn  from 
himself ; 
And  much,  too,  that  is  bad. 

Parson.  Nay,  let  me  speak! 

Aught  that  is  good  the  soul  receives  of  God 
When  lie  hath  made  it  His;  and  until  then 
Man  cannot  know,  nor  do,  nor  be,  aught  good. 
Oh!  there  is  nought  on  earth  worth  being  known 


•  FESTUS.  ]65 

But  God  and  our  own  souls  —  the  God  we  have 
Within  our  hearts;  for  it  is  not  the  hope, 
Nor  faith,  nor  fear,  nor  notions  others  have 
Of  God  can  serve  us,  but  the  sense  and  soul 
We  have  of  Him  within  us ;   and,  for  men,  • 
God  loves  us  men  each  individually, 
And  deals  with  us  in  order,  soul  by  soul. 

Lucifer.     But  this  is  not  the  place  for  sermons. 

Parson.  Tfjo 

We  heard  once,  Festus,  you  were  travelling :  — 
Pray,  in  what  parts  ] 

Festus.  Among  the  outer  orbs. 

Parson.     Nay,  surely  not  so  far  except  in  thought, 
Perchance,  or  calculation. 

Festus.  A  month  back 

I  was  in  giant  land. 

Parson.  Ah!  fee-faw-fum'?  — 

They  did  not  eat  you  there] 

Festus.  Oh!  no.     They  much 

Preferred  their  usual  fare. 

Parson.  What  might  it  be] 

Not  Englishmen  and  hasty  pudding,  eh] 

Festus.      They   are   no   more    cannibals   than   you 
or  I ; 
But  are  of  various  tastes,  and  patronize, 
I  know,  rich  diet. 

Parson.  It's  excusable. 

And  they  are  great  consumers,  I  dare  say. 

Festus.     A  wheat-stack  of  our  friend's  here  would 
but  make 


166  FESTUS.  • 

One  loaf  of  bread  for  them.     Oak  trees  they  use 
As  pickles,  and  tall  pines  as  toothpicks;  whales, 
In  their  own  blubber  fried,  serve  as  mere  fish 
To  bait  their  appetites.     Boiled  elephants. 
Rhinoceroses,  and  roasted  crocodiles  — 
Every  thing  dished  up  whole  —  with  lions  stewed. 
Shark  sauce,  and  eagle  pie,  and  young  giraffes 
Make  up  a  potluck  dinner,  —  if  there's  plenty. 
Then  as  for  game,  the  ptero-dactyles 
And  ichthyosauri  are  great  dainties  there. 
Coming  in  season  only  once  an  age. 
They  reckon  there  by  ages,  not  by  years. 

Student.     And  as  to  beverage  ] 

Festus.  Oh!  if  thirsty,  they 

Will  lay  them  down  and  drink  a  river  dry. 
Nor  once  draw  breath. 

Parson.  Ah!  camel,  gnat,  and  all. 

Festus.     Others  are  more  abstemious,  and  consume 
Egg'broth  and  simples  chiefly.     There  was  one 
Who,  when  I  saw  him  first,  sat  by  a  fire; 
An  e^g,  an  hour  glass,  and  a  water  bowl 
Being  before  him.     All  he  said  was  this:  — 
When  the  sand  is  run 
The  egg  is  done. 
This  he  first  boiled,  then  roasted,  and  then  ate. 

Student.     What  sort  of  one  ?     Perhaps  an  ostrich 

Festus.     Much  larger.    Here  is  nothing  of  the  kind. 
The  yolk  was  like  the  sun  seen  in  a  fog ; 


FESTUS.  167 

The  white  was  thin  and  clouded,  and  the  shell 
Heavy  and  hard,  as  is  our  earth-pie  crust. 

Lucifer.     What  kind  of  bird  it  was  that  laid  it  — 
guess !  — 

Parson.      Continue.      You    have    travelled    in    the 
dark ; 
But  wisdom  sometimes  inns  with  ignorance. 
What  of  their  persons,  habits,  language,  creed  1 

Festus.     They  live  seven  thousand   years  of  years 
like  ours, 
And  then  die  suddenly;  when  death  takes  place, 
They  burn  the  bodies  always  in  a  lake, 
The  spray  whereof  is  ashes,  and  its  depths 
Unfathomable  fire,  and  never  mourn. 
In  form  and  stature  they  are  mountain-sized ; 
Could  walk  through  woods  like  ours  as  through  long 

grass ; 
Use  little  verbal  language,  but  express 
All  thought  by  action  and  oracular  use 
Of  eye  or  hand.     Their  chief  religion  seems 
Self-punishment  by  sin  and  rites  of  fire. 
'Twould  do  the  godless  good  to  visit  once 
One  of  this  a\vful  race  whom  once  I  saw ; 
And  who  —  were  time  and  place  more  fitting  — 

Student.  Nay, 

We  are  apart  from  others.     Nothing  save 
Yon  heavenly  ark  which  floats  among  the  stars, 
Now  resting  on  an  Ararat  of  clouds, 
Hath  leave  to  overlook  us. 


168  FESTUS. 

Parson.  Pray  proceed. 

Festus.      Once    I   had  travelled   through   a  weary 
world 
Than  all  in  Heaven  more  barren  and  forlorn, 
Dark  as  the  wild  heart  of  a  thunder-cloud, 
Strewn  with  the  wrecks  and  ashes  of  all  orbs 
Fire-stranded,  rolling  in  quick  agony ; 
Peopled  with  burning  ghosts,  dislimbed  and  charred ; 
And  in  the  midst  a  giant,  by  a  fire 
Kindled  of  burning  passions,  and  full  fed 
With  sins  long  seasoned,  at  whose  feet  there  stood 
A  crystal  cistern  brimmed  with  human  tears, 
"Which  sprinkled,  but  inflamed  the  fire  withal ;  — 
The  giant  all  while  watching  with  stern  mien. 
And  ruthless  interest  the  whole.     Dread  sir! 
Said  I,  as  I  drew  near,  what  angers  thee'? 
He  answered  not,  but  pointed ;  and  I  saw 
Full  in  the  midst  of  that  infernal  fire, 
Blazing  aghast  in  solar  solitude, 
A  panting  shadow,  which,  with  skeleton  eyes 
And  woe-gouged  countenance,  whereon  was  hung 
A  white  eclipse  like  darkness  pale  with  pain. 
Watched  for  the  disappearance  of  the  Heavens 
With  a  despairing  hope ;  entranced  it  lay 
In  all  its  horrid  perspicuity 
And  glassy  ghastUncss  immortalized. 
Anon  it  turned  round  restlessly,  and  cried, 
Woe,  woe  is  me !     Eternal  Spirit  God ! 
lliy  wrath  is  heaviest  when  endurable. 


FESTUS.  169 

Put  forth  Thy  strength  and  sweep  tjie  universe, 

"With  me,  into  the  night  of  nothingness, 

That  sin  and  soul  may  perish.     Woe  is  me ! 

Still  shine  the  blessed  Heavens,  and  still,  like  fire 

Congealed,  my  woe  perpetuates  itself. 

Whereat  the  giant  laughed,  rejoicing  in 

His  ministry  of  woe,  and  blew  his  hell 

Still  fiercer  —  till  it  bellowed,  and  the  orb 

Beneath  my  foot  sole  seared,  and  I  took  leave; 

For  there  was  somewhat  in  the  giant's  air, 

And  his  huge  balefire  and  the  naked  plain  — 

Bald  as  the  crown  of  Time  —  which  caused  me  dread. 

Parson.     Dreams  you  have  dreamed  till  you  believe 
in  them ; 
But  such  as  these  are  awesome.     Not  the  less 
View  them  vouchsafed  as  warnings.     Oft  the  mind, 
Freed  by  angelic  sleep  from  bodily  bonds. 
Knows  scenes  and  themes  like  these  you  have  named, 

which  tend 
To  edifying  much.     Such  travel  is 
Like  mine,  the  travail  simply  of  the  brain. 

Festus.     It  is  pure  reality. 

Parson.  Well,  say  no  more. 

W^e  may  pursue  the  sense  of  things  too  far. 
The  golden  side  of  Heaven's  great  shield  is  faith. 
The  silver,  reason.     I  see  this,  you  that ; 
The  junction  is  invisible  to  both. 

Student.      One    thing   is   sometimes    said,   another 
meant. 


170  FESTUS. 

Lucifer.     Wl^t  are  your  politics? 

Farmer.  I  have  none. 

Lucifer.  Good. 

Farmer.     I   have   my    thoughts.     I    am    no    party 
man. 
I  care  for  measures  more  than  men,  but  think 
Some  little  may  depend  upon  the  men ; 
Something  in  fires  depends  upon  the  grate. 

First  Boy.     What  are  your  colors  1 

Second.  Blue  as  Heaven. 

Third.  And  mine 

Are  yellow  as  the  sun. 

First.  Mine,  green  as  grass. 

Second.     Green's  forsaken,  and  yellow's  forsworn. 
And  blue's  the  color  that  shall  be  worn. 

Student.     As  to  religion,  politics,  law,  and  war. 
But  little  need  be  said.     All  are  requked. 
And  all  are  well  enough.     Of  liberty. 
And  slavery,  and  tyranny  we  hear 
Much;  but  the  human  mind  affects  extremes. 
The  heart  is  in  the  middle  of  the  system; 
And  all  affections  gather  round  the  truth. 
The  moderated  joys  and  woes  of  life. 
I  love  my  God,  my  country,  kind  and  kin. 
Nor  would  I  see  a  dog  wronged  of  his  bone. 
My  country !  if  a  wretch  should  e'er  arise. 
Out  of  thy  countless  sons,  who  would  curtail 
Thy  freedom,  dim  thy  glory,  —  w^hile  he  lives 
May  all  earth's  peoples  curse  him  —  for  of  all 


FESTUS.  171 

Hast  thou  secured  the  blessmg ;  —  and  if  one 
Exist  who  would  not  arm  for  liberty, 
Be  he  too  cursed  living,  and  when  dead. 
Let  him  be  buried  dow^nwards,  with  his  face 
Looking  to  hell,  and  o'er  his  coward  grave 
The  hare  skulk  in  her  form. 

Lucifer.  Nay,  gently,  friend. 

Curse  nothing,  not  the  Devil.     He's  beside  you  — 
For  aught  you  know. 

Student.  I  neither  know  nor  care. 

[They  pass  some  Card-players. 

Festus.      Kings,  queens,  knaves,  tens,  would  trick 
the  world  away, 
And  it  were  not,  now  and  then,  for  some  brave  ace. 

Student.     You  see  yon  wretched,  starved  old  man ; 
his  brow 
Grooved  out  with  wrinkles  like  the  brown  dry  sand 
The  tide  of  life  is  leaving] 

Lucifer.  Yes,  I  see  him. 

Student.     Last  week  he  thought  he  was  about  to 
die: 
So  he  bade  gold  be  strewn  beneath  his  pillow, 
Gold  on  a  chest  that  he  might  lie  and  see, 
And  gold  put  in  a  basin  on  his  bed. 
That  he  might  dabble  with  his  fingers  in. 
He's  going  now  to  grope  for  pence  or  pins. 
He  never  gave  a  pin's  worth  in  his  life. 
What  would  you  do  to  himi 

Lucifer.  I  would  have  him  wrougiit 


172  FESTUS. 

Into  a  living  wire,  which,  beaten  out. 
Might  tnake  a  golden  network  for  the  world ; 
Then  melt  him  inch  by  inch,  and  hell  by  hell, 
Where  is  the  law  of  wrath. 

Student.  Oh,  charity! 

It  is  a  thought  the  Devil  might  be  proud  of — 
Once  and  away.     Misers  and  spendthrifts  may 
Torment  each  other  in  the  world  to  come. 

Lucifer.    And  thus  do  men  apportion  their  own  lot ; 
A  grain  of  comfort  and  a  sack  of  sin. 

Festus.     Men  look  on  death  as  lightning,  always  far 
Off,  or  in  Heaven.     They  know  not  it  is  in 
Themselves,  a  strong  and  inward  tendency. 
The  soul  of  every  atom,  every  hair* 
That  nature's  infinite  electric  life. 
Escaping  from  each  isolated  frame. 
Up  out  of  earth,  or  down  from  Heaven,  becomes 
To  each  its  proper  death,  and  adds  itself 
Thus  to  the  great  reunion  of  the  whole. 
There  is  a  man  in  mourning!     What  does  he  here'? 

Student.     He  has   just  buried   the  only  friend  he 
had. 
And  now  comes  hither  to  enjoy  himself 

Festus.     Why  will  we  dedicate  the  dead  to  God, 
And  not  ourselves,  the  living?     Oft  we  speak. 
With  tears  of  joy  and  trust,  of  some  dear  friend 
As  surely  up  in  Heaven ;  while  that  same  soul. 
For  aught  we  know,  may  be  shuddering  even  in  hell 
To  hear  his  name  named;  or  there  may  be  no 


FESTUS.  173 

Soul  in  the  case  —  and  the  fat  icy  worm, 
Give  him  a  tongue,  can  tell  us  all  about  him. 

Student.      Here    is    music.      Stay.      That    simple 
melody 
Comes  on  the  heart  like  infant  innocence  — 
Pure  feeling  pure;  while  yet  the  new-bodied  soul 
Is  swinging  to  the  motion  of  the  Heavens, 
And    scarce    hath    caught,   as    yet,   earth's   backening 
course. 

Festus.     The   heart   is   formed   as   earth  was  —  its 
first  age 
Formless  and  void,  and  fit  but  for  itself; 
Then  feelings  half  alive,  just  organized, 
Come  next,  —  then  creeping  sports  and  purposes,  — 
Then  animal  desires,  delights,  and  loves  — 
For  love  is  the  first  and  granite-like  efiect 
Of  things  —  the  longest  and  the  highest:  next 
The  wild  and  winged  desires,  youth's  saurian  schemes, 
Which  creep  and  fly  by  turns ;  which  kill  and  eat, 
And  do  disgorge  each  other :  comes  at  length 
The  mould  of  perfect,  matchless  manhood  —  then 
Woman  divides  the  heart,  and  multiplies  it. 
The  insipidity  of  innocence 
Palls:    it  is  guilty,  happy,  and  undone. 
A  death  is  laid  upon  it,  and  it  goes  — 
Quits  its  green  Eden  for  the  sandy  world. 
Where  it  works  out  its  nature,  as  it  may. 
In  sweat,  smiles,  blood,  tears,  cursings,  and  what  tiot* 

And  giant  sins  possess  it ;  and  it  worships 

o* 


174  FESTUS. 

Works  of  the  hand,  head,  heart  —  its  own  or  others  — 

A  creature  worship,  which  excludeth  God's: 

The  less  thrusts  out  the  greater.     Warning  comes. 

But  the  heart  fears  not — -feels  not ;   till  at  last 

Down  comes  the  flood  from  Heaven;  and  that  heart. 

Broken  inwards,  earthlike,  to  its  central  hell : 

Or  like  the  bright  and  burning  eye  we  see 

Inly,  when  pressed  hard  backwards  on  the  brain, 

Ends  and  begins  again  —  destroyed,  is  saved. 

Every  man  is  the  first  man  to  himself. 

And  Eves  are  just  as  plentiful  as  apples; 

Nor  do  we  fall,  nor  are  we  saved,  by  proxy. 

The  Eden  we  live  in  is  our  own  heart; 

And  the  first  thing  we  do,  of  our  free  choice. 

Is  sure  and  necessary  to  be  sin. 

Lucifer.     The  only  right  men  have  is  to  be  damned. 
What  is  the  good  of  music,  or  the  beauty] 

Music  tells  no  truths. 

» 

Festus.  Oh!  there  is  nought  so  sweet 

As  lying  and  listening  music  from  the  hands. 
And  singing  from  the  lips,  of  one  we  love  — 
Lips  that  all  others  should  be  tuned  to.     Then 
The  world  would  all  be  love  and  song ;  Heaven's  harps 
And  orbs  join  in;  the  whole  be  harmony  — 
Distinct,  yet  blended  —  blending  all  in  one 
Long  and  delicious  tremble  like  a  chord. 
But  to  Thee,  God!  all  being  is  a  harp, 
Wh'ifreon  Thou  makest  mightiest  melody. 
Hast  ever  been  in  love? 


FESTUS.  175 

Student.  I  never  was. 

Festus.     Spite  of  morality  or  mystery, 
It  is  love  which  mostly  destinates  our  life. 
What  makes  the  world  in  after  life  I  know  not, 
For  our  horizon  alters  as  we  age: 
Power  only  can  make  up  for  the  lack  of  love-r 
Power  of  some  sort.     The  mind  at  one  time  grows 
So  fast,  it  fails ;  and  then  its  stretch  is  more 
Than  its  strength  ;  but,  as  it  opes,  love  fills  it  up, 
Like  to  the  stamen  in  the  flower  of  life. 
Till  for  the  time  we  well  nigh  grow  all  love; 
And  soon  we  feel  the  want  of  one  kind  heart 
To  love  what's  well,  and  to  forgive  what's  ill, 
In  us,  —  that  heart  we  play  for  at  all  risks. 

Student.     How  can  the  heart,  which  lies  embodied 
deep 
In  blood  and  bone,  set  like  a  ruby  eye 
Into  the  breast,  be  made  a  toy  for  beauty, 
And,  vane-like,  blown  about  by  every  wanton  sigh  1 
How  can  the  soul,  the  rich,  star-travelled  stranger. 
Who  here  sojourneth  only  for  a  purchase. 
Risk  all  the  riches  of  his  years  of  toil. 
And  his  God-vouched  inheritance  of  Heaven, 
For  one  light  momentary  taste  of  love  1 

Festus.     It  is  so  ;    and  when  once   you   know  the 
sport  — 
The  crowded  pack  of  passions  in  full  cry  — 
The  sweet  deceits,  the  tempting  obstacles  — 
The  smile,  the  sigh,  the  tear,  and  the  embrace  — 


176  FESTUS. 

All  the  delights  of  love  at  last  in  one, 

With  kisses  close  as  stars  in  the  milky  way, 

In  at  the  death  you  cry,  though  'twere  your  own 

Student.     Upon  my  soul,  most  sound  morality! 
Nothing  is  thought  of  virtue,  then,  nor  judgment '? 

Festus.     Oh!  every  thing  is  thought  of — but  not 
then. 
And  —  judgment  —  no!  it  is  nowhere  in  the  field. 

Student.      Slow-paced    and    late   arriving,    still    it 
comes. 
I  cannot  understand  this  love ;  I  hear 
Of  its  idolatry,  not  its  respect. 

Festus.      Respect   is  what  we  owe;   love  what  we 
give. 
And  men  would  mostly  rather  give  than  pay. 
Morality's  the  right  rule  for  the  world. 
Nor  could  society  cohere  without 
^Virtue :  and  there  are  those  whose  spirits  walk 
Abreast  of  angels  and  the  future,  here. 
Respect  and  love  thou  such. 

Lucifer.                                    Of  course  you  wish 
Women  to  love  you  rather  than  love  them. 
It  is  better.     Now,  you  say  you  are  a  student. 
All  things  take  study;  what  more  than  the  face  — 
Whether  your  own,  or  hers  you  look  and  long  at? 
There  are  many  ways  to  one  end:  here  is  one:  — 
You  are  good  looking ;   but  that  matters  little : 
It  only  pleases  them.     To  please  yourself. 
Your  face  may  be  as  ugly  as  the  .     Well,  well ; 


FESTUS.  177 

But  you  must  cultivate  yourself:   it  will  pay  you. 

Study  a  dimple ;  work  hard  at  a  smile : 

The  things  most  delicate  require  most  pains. 

Practise  the  upward  —  now  the  sidelong  glance  — 

Now  the  long  passionful  unwinking  gaze, 

Which  beats  itself  at  last,  and  sees  air  only. 

Be  restless,  and  distress  yourself  for  her. 

Take  up  her  hand  —  press  it,  and  pore  on  it  — 

Let  it  drop  —  snatch  it  again  as  though  you  had 

Let  slip  so  much  of  honor  or  of  Heaven. 

Swear  —  vow  by  all  means  —  never  miss  an  oatli : 

If  broken,  why  it  only  spoils  itself: 

It  is  a  broken  oath,  and  not  a  whole  one. 

Frown  —  toss  about  —  let  her  lips  be  for  a  time  ; 

But  steal  a  kiss  at  last  like  fire  from  Heaven. 

Weep  if  you  can,  and  call  the  tears  heat-drops. 

Droop  your  head  —  sigh  deep — play  the  fool,  in  short. 

One  hour,  and  she  will  play  the  fool  forever. 

Mind !   it  is  folly  to  tell  w^omen  truth ; 

They  would  rather  live  on  lies,  so  they  be  sweet. 

Never  be  long  in  one  mind  to  one  love. 

You  change  your  practice  with  your  subject.     .\'.\ 

Differ.     But  yet,  who  knows  one  woman  well 

By  heart,  knows  all.     It  is  my  experience  ; 

And  I  advise  on  good  authority. 

So  thank  me  for  my  lecture  on  delusion. 

Festus.     Time  laughs  at  love.     It  is  a  hateful  sight, 
That  bald  old  gray-beard  jeering  the  boy.  Love. 
But  as  to  women:  that  game  has  two  sides. 

23 


178  FESTUS. 

Passion  is  from  aifection  ;  and  there  is  nought 

So  maddening  and  so  lowering  as  to  have 

The  worse  in  passion.     Think,  when  one  hy  one, 

Pride,  love,  and  jealousy,  and  fifty  more 

Great  feelings  column  up  to  force  a  heart. 

And  all  are  beaten  back  —  all  fail  —  all  fall : 

The  tower  intact;  but  risk  it:  we  must  learn. 

To  know  the  world,  be  wise  and  be  a  fool. 

The  heart  will  have  its  swing  —  the  world  its  way: 

Who  seeks  to  stop  them,  only  throws  himself  down. 

We  must  take  as  we  find:  go  as  they  go, 

Or  stand  aside.     Let  the  world  have  the  wall. 

How  do  you  think,  pray,  to  get  through  the  world  ? 

Student.     I  mean  not  to  get  through  the  world  at 
all, 
But  over  it. 

Festus.         Aspiring!     You  will  find 
The  world  is  all  uphill  when  we  would  do  ; 
All  downhill  when  we  suffer.     Nay,  it  will  part 
Like  the  Red  Sea,  so  that  the  poor  may  pass. 
We  make  our  compliments  to  wretchedness. 
And  hope  the  poor  want  nothing,  and  are  well. 
But  I  mean,  what  profession  will  you  choose? 
Surely  you  will  do  something  for  a  name. 

Student.     Names  are  of   much   more   consequence 
than  things. 

Festus.     Well ;    here's    our    honest,    all-exhorting 
friend. 
The  parson  —  here  the  doctor.     I  am  sure 


FESTUS.  17y 

The  devil  might  act  as  moderator  there, 
And  do  mankind  some  service. 

Lucifer.  In  his  way. 

Student.     But  I  care  neither  for  men's   souls   nor 
bodies. 

Festus.     What    say    you    to    the    law]      Are   you 
ambitious  1 

Student.      Nor  do  I  mind  for  other  people's  busi- 
ness. 
I  have  no  heart  for  their  predicaments : 
I  am  for  myself     I  measure  every  thing 
By,  what  is  it  to  me  ?  from  which  I  find 
I  have  but  little  in  common  with  the  mass. 
Except  my  meals  and  so  forth ;   dress  and  sleep. 
I  have  that  within  me  I  can  live  upon : 
Spider-like,  spin  my  place  out  any  where. 

1 ESTUS.     To  none  of  all  the  arts  and  sciences,  — 
Astronomy  nor  entomology. 
Nor  gunnery,  for  instance,  then,  you  feel 
Attracted  heartily  and  mentally] 

Student.     Why,  no;    there   are   so  many  rise   and 
fall. 
One  knows  not  which  to  choose.     As  for  the  stars, 
I  never  look  on  them  without  dismay. 
Earth  has  outrun  them  in  our  modern  mind, 
By  worlds  of  odds.     Enough  for  us,  it  seems, 
And  our  cold  calculators,  to  jot  down 
Their  revolutions,  distances,  and  squares ;  — 
And  the  bright  laws  which  stars  and  spirits  rule 


180  FESTUS. 

Are  all  laid  out  and  buried  grave  on  grave. 

The  fourfold  worlds  and  elemental  spheres, 

Which  in  concentric  circles,  like  the  ring 

That  the  magician  stands  in,  from  on  high 

Give  spiritual  calling  to  our  earth, 

And  lord  it  over  her,  yet  in  such  wise, 

That  still  by  them  we  may  conjoin  our  souls 

Unto  the  starry  spirits  of  all  worlds ; 

Beyond  the  changeful  mansions  of  the  moon. 

Beyond  the  burning  heart  of  Heaven,  where  dwell 

The  governors  of  nature  and  the  blest, 

All  knowing  spirits  and  celestial. 

And  divine  demons  ;  are  all  gone  —  extinct. 

There  is  no  danger  now  of  knowing  aught 

Which  ought  not  to  be  known.     No  more  of  that !  - 

And  you,  ye  planetary  sons  of  light ! 

From  him  who  hovereth,  mothlike,  round  the  sun 

To  six-mooned  Ouranus,  light's  loftiest  round, — 

Your  aspects,  dignities,  ascendancies. 

Your  partile  quartiles,  and  your  plastic  trines. 

And  all  your  heavenly  houses  and  effects, 

Shall  meet  no  more  devout  expounders  here. 

You  too,  ye  juried  signs,  earth's  sunny  path 

Upon  her  wheeling  orbit,  all  farewell ! 

Your  exaltations  and  triplicities. 

Fiery,  airy,  and  the  rest;  your  falls. 

And  detriments,  and  governments,  and  gifts, 

Are  all  abolished.     Henceforth  ye  shall  shine 

In  vain  to  man.     Diurnal,  cardinal, 


FESTUS.  181 

Nocturnal,  equinoctial,  hot  or  dry, 

Earthy,  or  moist,  or  feminine,  or  fixed, 

Luxurious,  violent,  bicorporate, 

Masculine,  barren,  and  commanding,  cold, 

Fruitful  or  watery,  or  what  not,  now 

It  matters  nothing.     The  joy  of  Jupiter, 

The  exaltation  of  the  Dragon's  head. 

The  sun's  triplicity  and  glorious 

Day-house  on  high,  the  moon's  dim  detriment, 

And  all  the  starry  inclusions  of  all  signs  — 

Shall  rise,  and  rule,  and  pass,  and  no  one  know 

That  there  are  spirit-rulers  of  all  worlds, 

Which  fraternize  with  earth,  and,  though  unknown, 

Hold  in  the  shining  voices  of  the  stars 

Communion  high,  ever  and  every  where.  — 

The  mystic  charm  of  numbers,  and  the  sole 

Oneness  which  is  in  all,  of  nature's  great 

Triadic  principle,  in  all  things  seen  ; 

In  man  thus,  as  composed  of  thrice  three  foims 

Intrinsic ;  first,  corporeally,  blood. 

Body,  and  bones ;  next,  intellectively, 

Imagination,  judgment,  memory; 

And  thirdly,  spiritually,  mind  and  soul, 

And  spirit,  which  unites  with  God  the  whole 

Being,  and  comes  from  and  returns  to  Him, — 

Allures  no  more  man's  mind  debased.     Thus,  too, 

Of  alchemy ;  the  golden,  starry  stone, 

Invisible,  the  principle  of  life, 

The  quintessence  of  all  the  elements. 


182  FESTUS. 

Is  Still  unbouglit ;  —  still  flows  the  stream  of  pear] 

Beneath  the  magic  mountain ;  still  the  scent 

As  of  a  thousand  amaranthine  wreaths,  which  luret 

All  life  unto  its  sweetness,  floats  around 

Mistlike,  the  shining  bath  where  Luna  laves. 

Or  Sol,  bright  brother  of  that  mooned  maid. 

Triumphs  in  light ;  the  spiritual  sun, 

The  heavenly  Earth  smaragdine,  and  the  flre- 

Spirit  of  life,  the  live  land,  still  exist. 

Immortally,  internally,  unseen. — 

Still  breathes  the  Paradisal  air  around 

The  universal  whole;  the  watery  fire, 

Destructive,  yet  impalpable  to  sense ; 

The  initial  and  conclusion  of  the  world. 

Yea,  the  beginning  and  the  end  of  death ; 

The  secret  which  is  shared  'tween  God  and  man, 

And  which  is  nature  only,  wholly,  still 

In  heavenly  gloom  incomprehensible 

Wait  the  Deific  will ;  yea,  still  the  light, 

AVTiereto  all  elements  contribute,  burns 

About  us  and  within  us,  world  and  soul. 

The  primal  sperm  and  matter  of  the  world. 

Whose  centre  is  the  limit  of  all  things, — 

The  snowy  gold,  the  star  and  spirit  seed 

Which  is  to  render  rich  and  deathless  all  ; 

The  self-begot,  self-wedded,  and  self-born. 

Which  the  wind  carries  in  its  womb,  all  have, 

And  few  receive ;  the  spirit  of  the  earth. 

The  water  of  immortal  life  still  lives :  — 


FESTUS.  183 

The  universal  solvent  of  disease 

Still  bounds  through  nature's  veins ;  and  still,  in  fine, 

The  secrets  only  to  be  told  by  fire 

Starry  or  beamless,  central  and  extreme, 

Bum  to  be  born.     And  other  natures  may 

Use  them,  and  do.     In  Demogorgon's  hall 

Still  sits  the  universal  mystery 

Throned  in  itself  and  ministered  unto 

By  its  own  members :  — ]\[an,  alas  !  alone 

The  recreant  spirit  of  the  universe. 

Loves  surface  knowledge;  calls  the  crimes  of  crowds 

Virtue ;  adores  the  useful  vices ;  licks 

The  gory  dust  from  off  the  feet  of  war. 

And  swears  it  food  for  gods,  though  fit  for  fiends 

Only;  —  reversing  just  the  Devil's  state 

When  first  he  entered  on  this  orb  of  man's  — 

A  fallen  angel's  form,  a  reptile's  soul. 

Lucifer.     Oh !  this  is  libellous  to  man,  and  fiend, 
And  brute  together. 

Student.  All  are  art  and  part 

Of  the  same  mystic  treason.     But  enough ;  — 
The  most  material,  immaterial 
Departments  of  pure  wisdom  are  despised. 
For  well  we  know  that,  properly  prepared. 
Souls  self-adapted  knowledge  to  receive 
Are  by  the  truth  desired,  illumined ;  man's 
Spirit,  extolled,  dilated,  clarified. 
By  holy  meditation  and  divuie 
Lore,  fits  him  to  convene  with  purer  powers 


184  FESTUS. 

Which  do  unseen  surround  us  aye,  and  gladden 

In  human  good  and  exaltation ;  thus 

The  face  of  Heaven  is  not  more  clear  to  one 

Than  to  another  outwardly;  but  one 

By  strong  intention  of  his  soul  perceives, 

Attracts,  unites  himself  to  essences 

And  elemental  spirits  of  wider  range 

And  more  beneficent  nature,  by  whose  aid 

Occasion,  circumstance,  futurity. 

Impress  on  him  their  image,  and  impart 

Their  secrets  to  his  soul;  thus  chance  and  lot 

Are  sacred  things ;  thus  dreams  are  verities. 

The  soul,  which  like  the  mountain  lakelet  lifts 

Its  gaze  to  Heaven  alone,  will  learn,  ere  long, 

To  read  the  cloudy  forms  of  future  days 

Which  glass  them  in  its  vision,  or  perceive, 

Clear  through  the  crystal  egg  of  time,  the  play 

Of  spirits  and  forecomingness  of  things. 

The  mysteries  of  numbers  and  of  names 

Are  nothing  known  of  now ;  yet  wot  we  well 

That  natural  perfection,  multiplied 

By  spiritual,  gives  the  names  of  God 

As  known  to  men  and  angels,  and  that  Fate 

Rules  really  and  nominally  all. 

But  Oh!  alas  for  all  earth's  loftier  lore, 

And  spiritual  sympathy  of  worlds  !  — 

There  shall  be  no  more  magic  nor  cabala, 

Nor  llosicrucian  nor  Alchymic  lore. 

Nor  fairy  fantasies ;  no  more  hobgoblins, 


FESTUS.  185 

Nor  ghosts,  nor  imps,  nor  demons.     Conjurors, 
Enchanters,  witches,  wizards,  shall  all  die 
Hopeless  and  heirless ;  their  divining  arts 
Supernal  or  infernal — dead  with  them. 
And  so  'twill  doubtless  be  with  other  things 
In  time ;  therefore  I  will  commit  my  brain 
To  none  of  them. 

Festus.  Perchance  'twere  wiser  not. 

Man's  heart  hath  not  half  uttered  itself  yet. 
And  much  remains  to  do  as  well  as  say. 
The  heart  is  sometime  ere  it  finds  its  focus  ; 
And  when  it  does,  with  the  whole  light  of  nature 
Strained  through  it  to  a  hair's  breadth,  it  but  burns 
The  things  beneath  it,  which  it  lights  to  death. 
Well,  farewell,  Mr.  Student.     May  you  never 
Regret  those  hours  which  make  the  mind,  if  they 
Unmake  the  body;  for  the  sooner  we 
Are  fit  to  be  all  mind,  the  better.     Blest 
Is  he  whose  heart  is  the  home  of  the  great  dead, 
And    their  great    thoughts.     Who  can   mistake   great 

thoughts  1 
They  seize  upon  the  mind  —  arrest  and  search. 
And  shake  it  —  bow  the  tall  soul  as  by  wind  — 
Rush  over  it  like  rivers  over  reeds, 
Which  quaver  in  the  current  —  turn  us  cold, 
And  pale,  and  voiceless;  leaving  in  the  brain 
A  rocking  and  a  ringing,  —  glorious. 
But  momentary,  madness  might  it  last. 
And  close  the  soul  with  Heaven  as  with  a  seal ! 

24  p* 


186  FESTUS. 

In  lieu  of  all  these  things  whose  loss  thou  mouix'^st. 

If  earnestly  or  not  I  know  not,  use 

The  great,  and  good,  and  true,  which  ever  live. 

And  are  all  common  to  pure  eyes  and  true. 

Upon  the  summit  of  each  mountain-thought 

Worship  thou  God  —  with  Heaven  uplifted  head 

And  arms  horizon-stretched  —  for  Deity  is  seen 

From  every  elevation  of  the  soul. 

Study  the  Light ;  attempt  the  high ;  seek  out 

The  soul's  bright  path;   and  since  the  soul  is  fire 

Of  heat  intelligential,  turn  it  aye 

To  the  all-Fatherly  source  of  light  and  life ; 

Piety  purifies  the  soul  to  see 

Perpetual  apparitions  of  all  grace 

And  power,  which  to  the  sight  of  those  who  dwelJ 

In  ignorant  sin  are  never  know^n.     Obey 

Thy  genius,  for  a  minister  it  is 

Unto  the  throne  of  Fate.     Draw  to  thy  soul. 

And  centralize,  the  rays  which  are  around 

Of  the  Divinity.     Keep  thy  spirit  pure 

From  worldly  taint  by  the  repellant  strength 

Of  virtue.     Think  on  noble  thoughts  and  deeds 

Ever.     Count  o'er  the  rosary  of  truth ; 

And  practise  precepts  which  are  proven  wise. 

It  matters  not  then  what  thou  fearest.     Walk 

Boldly  and  wisely  in  that  light  thou  hast;  — 

There  is  a  hand  above  will  help  thee  on. 

I  am  an  omnist,  and  believe  in  all 

Religions,  —  fragments  of  one  golden  world 


FESTUS.  187 

Yet  to  be  relit  in  its  place  in  Heaven  — 

For  all  are  relatively  true  and  false, 

As  evidence  and  earnest  of  the  heart 

To  those  vrho  practise,  or  have  faith  in  them. 

The  absolutely  true  religion  is 

In  Heaven  only,  yea  in  Deity. 

But  foremost  of  all  studies,  let  me  not 

Forget  to  bid  thee  learn  Christ's  faith  by  heart. 

Study  its  truths,  and  practise  its  behests: 

They  are  the  purest,  sweetest,  peacefuUest 

Of  all  immortal  reasons  or  records: 

They  will  be  with  thee  when  all  else  have  gone. 

Mind,  body,  passion,  all  wear  out  —  not  faith. 

Nor  truth.     Keep  thy  heart  cool,  or  rule  its  heat 

To  fixed  ends :  waste  it  not  upon  itself. 

Not  all  the  agony  of  all  the  damned, 

Fused  in  one  pang,  vies  with   that  earthquake  throb 

Which  wakens  it  from  waste  to  let  us  see 

The  world  rolled  by  for  aye ;  and  that  we  must 

Wait  an  eternity  for  our  next  chance. 

Whether  it  be  in  Heaven  or  elsewhere. 

Student.  Sir, 

I  will  remember  this  most  grave  advice, 
And  think  of  you  with  all  respect. 

Festus.  Well,  mind! 

The  worst  men  often  give  the  best  advice. 
Our  deeds  are  sometimes  better  than  our  tliouglits. 
Commend  me,  friend,  to  every  one  you  meet ; 
I  am  a  universal  favorite. 


188  FESTUS. 

Old  men  admire  me  deeply  for  my  beauty, 
Young  women  for  my  genius  and  strict  virtue, 
And  young  men  for  my  modesty  and  wisdom. 
All  turn  to  me,  whenever  I  speak,  full-faced, 
As  planets  to  the  sun,  or  owls  to  a  rushlight. 
Farewell ! 

Student.     I  hope  to  meet  again. 

Festus.  And  I. — 

Yonder' s  a  woman  singing.     Let  us  hear  her. 

Singer.     In  the  gray  church  tower 

"Were  the  clear  bells  ringing, 
When  a  maiden  sat  in  her  lonely  bower 

Sadly  and  lowly  singing; 
And  thus  she  sang,  that  maiden  fair, 
Of  the  soft  blue  eyes  and  the  long  light  hair 

This  hand  hath  oft  been  held  by  one 

Who  now  is  far  away; 
And  here  I  sit  and  sigh  alone 

Through  all  the  weary  day. 
Oh,  when  will  he  I  love  return ! 
Oh,  when  shall  I  forget  to  mourn  ! 

Along  the  dark  and  dizzy  path 

Ambition  madly  runs, 
'Tis  there  they  say  his  course  he  hath. 

And  therefore  love  he  shuns. 
Oh,  fame  and  honor  bind  his  brow, 
For  so  he  would  be  with  me  now ! 


FESTUS.  189 

In  the  gray  church  tower 

Were  the  clear  bells  ringing, 
When  a  bounding  step  in  that  lonely  bower 

Broke  on  the  maiden  singing ; 
She  turned,  she  saw ;  Oh,  happy  fair ! 
For  her  love  who  loved  her  so  well  was  there ! 

Lucifer.      And  we  might    trust   these  youths  and 
maidens  fair. 
The  world  was  made  for  nothing  but  love,  love! 
Now  I  think  it  was  made  but  to  be  burnt. 

Festus.     And  if  I  love  not  now,  while  woman  is 
All  bosom  to  the  young,  when  shall  I  love] 
Who  ever  paused  on  passion's  fiery  wheel  ] 
Or  trembling  by  the  side  of  her  he  loved, 
Whose  lightest  touch  brings  all  but  madness,  ever 
Stopped  coldly  short  to  reckon  up  his  pulse'? 
The  car  comes — and  we  lie  —  and  let  it  come; 
It  crushes  —  kiUs  —  what  then?     It  is  joy  to  die. 
Enough  shall  not  fool  me.     I  fling  the  foil 
Away.     Let  me  but  look  on  aught  which  casts 
The  shadow  of  a  pleasure,  and  here  I  bare 
A  breast  which  would  embrace  a  bride  of  fire. 
Pleasure — we  part  not!     No.     It  were  easier 
To  wring  God's  lightnings  from  the  grasp  of  God. 
I  must  be  mad:  but  so  is  all  the  world. 
Folly!     It  matters  not.     I  am  all  things  to  myself 
If  my  heart  thimdered,  would  the  world  rock  1    Well  — 
Then  let  the  mad  world  fight  its  shadow  down  ; 


190  FESTCS. 

There  soon  will   be  nor  sun,  nor  world,  nor  shadow 

And  thou,  my  blood,  my  bright  red   running  soul  — 

Rejoice  thou,  like  a  river,  in  thy  rapids! 

Rejoice  —  thou  wilt  never  pale  with  age,  nor  thin; 

But  in  thy  full,  dark  beauty,  vein  by  vein. 

Fold  by  fold,  serpent-like,  encircling  me 

Like  a  stag,  sunstruck,  top  thy  bounds  and  die. 

Throb,  bubble,  sparkle,  laugh,  and  leap  along  ! 

Make  merry  while  the  holidays  shall  last. 

Heart!  I  could  tear  thee  out,  thou  fool!  thou  fool! 

And  strip  thee  into  shreds  upon  the  wind: 

What  have  I  done  that  thou  shouldst  serve  me  thus  ? 

Lucifer.     Let  us  away.     We  have  had  enough  of 
this. 

Festus.     The  night  is  glooming  on  us.      It  is  the 
hour 
When  lovers  will  speak  lowly,  for  the  sake 
Of  being  nigh  each  other ;  and  when  love 
Shoots  up  the  eye  like  morning  on  the  east, 
Making  amends  for  the  long  northern  night 
They  passed  ere  either  knew  the  other  loved. 
It  is  the  hour  of  hearts,  when  all  hearts  feel 
As  they  could  love  to  mad  death,  finding  aught 
To  give  back  fire ;  for  love,  like  nature,  is 
War —  sweet  war !    Arms !    To  arms !  so  they  be  thine, 
Woman !     Old  people  may  say  what  they  please  — 
The  heart  of  age  is  like  an  emptied  wine-cup  ; 
Its  life  lies  in  a  heel-tap  —  how  can  they  judge  ? 
'Twere  a  waste  of  time  to  ask  how  they  wasted  theirs. 


FESTUS.  191 

But  while    the    blood    is    bright,    breath    sweet,    skin 

smooth, 
And  limbs  all  made  to  minister  delight  — 
Ere  yet  we  have  shed  our  locks  like  trees  their  leaves, 
And  we  stand  staring  bare  into  the  air  — 
He  is  a  fool  who  is  not  for  love  and  beauty. 
I  speak  unto  the  young,  for  I  am  of  them, 
And  alway  shall  be.     What  are  years  to  mel 
Traitors !  that  vice-like  fang  the  hand  ye  lick : 
Ye  fall  like  small  birds  beaten  by  a  storm 
Against  a  dead  wall,  dead.     I  pity  ye. 
Oh !  that  such  mean  things  should  raise  hope  or  fear  ; 
Those  Titans  of  the  heart,  that  fight  at  Heaven 
And  sleep  by  fits  on  fire ;  whose  slightest  stir  s 
An  earthquake.     I  am  bound  and  blest  to  youth ! 
Oh  !  give  me  to  the  young  —  the  fair  —  the  free  — 
The  brave,  who  would  breast  a  rushing,  burning  world 
Which  came  between  them  and  their  hearts'  delight. 
None  but  the  brave  and  beautiful  can  love. 
Oh,  for  the  young  heart  like  a  fountain  playing ! 
Flinging  its  bright,  fresh  feelings  up  to  the  skies 
It  loves  and  strives  to  reach  —  strives,  loves  in  vain 
It  is  of  earth,  and  never  meant  for  Heaven. 
Let  us  love  both,  and  die.     The  sphinx-like  heart. 
Consistent  in  its  mconsistency. 
Loathes  life  the  moment  that  life's  riddle  is  read: 
The  knot  of  our  existence  is  untied. 
And  we  lie  loose  and  useless.     Life  is  had ; 
And  then  we  sigh,  and  say,  Can  this  be  all  ? 


192  FESTUS. 

It  is  not  what  we  thought  —  it  is  very  well  — 
But  we  want  something  more  —  there  is  but  death. 
And  when  we  have  said,  and  seen,  and  done,  and  had. 
Enjoyed,  and  suffered,  all  we  have  wished  and  feared  — 
From  fame  to  ruin,  and  from  love  to  loathing  — 
There  can  come  but  one  more  change  —  try  it  —  death. 
Oh !  it  is  great  to  feel  we  care  for  nothing  — 
That  hope,  nor  love,  nor  fear,  nor  aught  of  earth 
Can  check  the  royal  lavishment  of  life ; 
But  like  a  streamer  strewn  upon  the  wind, 
We  fling  our  souls  to  fate  and  to  the  future. 
And  to  die  young  is  youth's  divinest  gift, — 
To  pass  from  one  world  fresh  into  another, 
Ere  change  hath  lost  the  charm  of  soft  regret. 
And  feel  the  immortal  impulse  from  within 
Which  makes  the  coming,  life — cry  alway.  On! 
And  follow  it  while  strong  —  is  Heaven's  last  mercy. 
There  is  a  firefly  in  the  southern  clime 
WTiich  shineth  only  when  upon  the  wing ; 
So  is  it  with  the  mind:  when  once  we  rest. 
We  darken.     On !  said  God  unto  the  soul 
As  to  the  earth,  forever.     On  it  goes, 
A  rejoicing  native  of  the  infinite  — 
As  is  a  bird  of  air  —  an  orb  of  Heaven. 


FESTUS.  193 

Scene — The   Centre 
Festus  and  Lucifer. 

Lucifer.     Behold  lis  in  the  fire-cr}^pts  of  the  world ! 
Through  seas  and  buried  mountains,  tomblike  tracts, 
Fit  to  receive  the  skeleton  of  Death 
When  he  is  dead  —  through  earthquakes,  and  the  bones 
Of  earth-swallowed  cities,  have  we  wormed 
Down  to  the  ever-burning  forge  of  fire, 
Whereon  in  awful  and  omnipotent  ease 
Nature,  the  delegate  of  God,  brings  forth 
Her  everlasting  elements,  and  breathes 
Around  that  fluent  heat  of  life  which  clothes 
Itself  in  lightnings,  wandering  through  the  air. 
And  pierces  to  the  last  and  loftiest  pore 
Of  Earth's  snow-mantled  mountains.     In  these  vaults 
Are  hid  the  archives  of  the  universe ; 
And  here,  the  ashes  of  all  ages  gone. 
Each  finally  inurned.     These  piUars  stand, 
Earth's  testimony  to  eternity. 

Festus.     All  that  is  solid  now  was  fluid  once; 
Water,  or  air,  or  fire,  or  some  one 
Permanent,  permeating  element; 
As  in  this  focal,  world-evolving  fire 
Like  what  I  see  around  —  the  vacuous  power 
Whereon  the  world  is  based,  e'en  as  wlierein 
It  rolls,  I  must  believe. 

25  Q 


194  FESTUS. 

Lucifer.  The  original 

Of  all  things  is  one  thing.     Creation  is 
One  whole.     The  ditferences  a  mortal  sees 
Are  diverse  only  to  the  finite  mind. 

Festus.     This  marbled-walled  immensity  o'erroofed 
With  pendent  mountains   glittering,  awes  my  soul. 
God's  hand  hath  scooped  the  hollow  of  this  world  ; 
Yea,  none  but  His  could ;  and  I  stand  in  it. 
Like  a  forgotten  atom  of  the  light 
Some  star  hath  lost  upon  its  lightning  flight. 

Lucifer.     Here  mayst  thou  lay  thy  hand  on  nature's 
heart, 
And  feel  its  thousand  yeared  throbbings  cease. 
High  overhead,  and  deep  beneath  our  feet. 
The  sea's  broad  thunder  booms,  scarce  heard ;  around, 
The  arches,  like  uplifted  continents 
Of  starry  matter,  burning  inwardly. 
Stand ;  and,  hard  by,  earth's  gleaming  axle  sleeps,   • 
All  moving,  all  unmoved. 

Festus.  Age  here  on  age 

Lie  heaped  like  withered  leaves.     And  must  it  end'! 

Lucifer.     God   worketh    slowly ;   and   a   thousand 
years 
He  takes  to  lift  His  hand  off*.     Layer  on  layer 
He  made  earth,  fashioned  it,  and  hardened  it 
Into  the  great,  bright,  useful  thing  it  is  ; 
Its  seas,  life-crowded,  and  soul-hallowed  lands 
He  girdled  with  the  girdle  of  the  sun. 
That  sets  its  bosom  glowing  like  Love's  own 


FESTUS.  195 

Breathless  embrace,  close-clinging  as  for  life  ;  — 

Veined  it  with  gold,  and  dusted  it  with  gems. 

Lined  it  with  fire,  and  round  its  heart-fire  bowed 

Rock-ribs  unbreakable ;  until  at  last 

Earth  took  her  shining  station  as  a  star 

In  Heaven's  dark  hall,  high  up  the  crowd  of  worlds. 

All  this  and  thus  did  God ;  and  yet  it  ends. 

The  ball  He  rolled  and  rounded  melts  away 

E'en  now  to  its  constituent  atomies. 

Festus.     It  is  enough.     Though  here  were  posited 
All  secrets  of  existence,  natural 
Or  supernatural,  dwell  not  here  would  I, 
Though  'twere  to  drain  profoundest  fountains.     No ! 
I  love  it  not,  the  science  nor  the  scene. 
I  long  to  know  again  the  fresh,  green  earth, 
The  breathing  breeze,  the  sea  and  sacred  stars. 
These  recollections  crowd  upon  my  soul. 
As  constellations  on  the  evening  skies. 
And  will  not  be  forgotten.     Let  us  leave  ! 

Lucifer.     Aught  that  reminds  the  exile  of  his  home 
Is  surely  pleasant.     I,  friend,  am  content. 

Festus.     I  cannot  be  content  with  less  than  Heaven. 
O  Heaven,  I  love  thee  ever!  sole  and  whole. 
Living  and  comprehensive  of  all  life ; 
Thee,  agy  world,  thee,  universal  Heaven, 
And  heavenly  universe !  thee,  sacred  seat 
Of  intellective  Time,  the  throned  stars 
And  old  oracular  night ;  —  by  night  or  day, 
To  me  thou  canst  not  but  be  beautiful, 


196  FESTUS. 

Boundless,  all-central,  universal  sphere! 

AVhether  the  sun  all-light  thee,  or  the  moon, 

Embcyed  in  clouds,  mid  starry  islands  round, 

With  mighty  beauty  inundate  the  air ;  — 

Or  when  one  star,  like  a  great  drop  of  light. 

From  her  full  flowing  urn  hangs  tremulous, — 

Yea,  like  a  tear  from  her  the  eye  of  night, 

Let  fall  o'er  nature's  volume  as  she  reads  ;  — 

Or,  when  in  radiant  thousands,  each  star  reigns 

In  imparticipable  royalty, 

Leaderless,  uncontrasted  with  the  light 

Wherein  their  light  is  lost,  the  sons  of  fire. 

Arch  element  of  the  Heavens  ;  —  when  storm  and  cloud 

Debar  the  mortal  vision  of  the  eye 

From  wandering  o'er  thy  threshold,  —  more  and  more 

I  love  thee,  thinking  on  the  splendid  calm 

Which  bounds  the  deadly  fever  of  these  days  — 

The  higher,  holier,  spiritual  Heaven. 

And  when  this  world,  within  whose  heartstrings  now 

I  feel  myself  encoiled,  shall  be  resolved, 

Thee  I  shall  be  permitted  still,  perchance, 

To  love  and  live  in  endlessly. 

Lucifer.  All  here 

Thou  seest  hath  holden  fellowship  with  gods; 
With  eldest  Time  and  primal  matter,  space. 
And  stars,  and  air,  and  all-inherent  fire, 
The  watery  deep  and  chaos,  night,  the  all, 
And  the  interior  immortality, 
And  first-begotten  Love.     These  rocks  retain 


FESTUS.  197 

Their  caverned  footsteps  printed  in  pure  fire. 

Those  were  the  times,  the  ancient  youth  of  earth, 

The  elemental  years,  when  Earth  and  Heaven 

Made  one  in  holy  bridals,  —  royal  gods 

Their  bright,  immortal  issue:  when  men's  minds 

Were  vast  as  continents,  and  not  as  now 

Minute  and  indistinguishable  plots, 

With  here  and  there  acres  of  untilled  brains ;    when 

lived 
The  great  original,  broad-eyed,  sunken  race, 
AVhose  wisdom,  like  these  sea-sustaining  rocks. 
Hath  formed  the  base  of  the  world's  fluctuous  lore  ;  — 
When,  too,  by  mountainous  travail,  human  might 
Sought  to  possess  the  everlasting  Heavens, 
And  incommunicable,  by  the  right 
Of  self-acquirement  and  high  kindred  with 
Celestial  virtues  ;  —  when  the  mortal  powers  — 
Forecounsel,  wisdom,  and  experience. 
Teachers  of  all  arts,  founders  of  all  good, 
With  Godhood  strove,  and  gloriously  failed  — 
In  failure  half  successful ;  as  these  scenes. 
Fire-fountains,  and  volcano-utterances, 
Earth-heavings,  island-vomitings,  evince. 

Festus.     The  world  hath  made  such  comet-like  ad- 
vance 
Lately  on  science,  we  may  almost  hope. 
Before  we  die  of  sheer  decay,  to  learn 
Something  about  our  infancy.     But  me 
This  troubles  not.     Were  all  earth's  mountain  chains 


198  FESTUS. 

To  utter  fire  at  once,  what  a  grand  show 

Of  pyrotechny  for  our  neighbor  moon! 

Let  us  ascend ;  but  not  through  the  charred  throat 

Of  an  extinct  volcano. 

Lucifer.  This  way — down. 

So  shalt  thou  thread  the  world  at  once. 

Festus.  Haste,  haste! 

Life  is  too  brittle,  time  too  brief  to  waste. 


Scene  —  A  ruined  Temple. 
Festus  and  Lucifer. 

Festus.     Here  will  I  worship  solely. 

Lucifer.  'Tis  a  fane 

Once  sacred  to  the  sun. 

Festus.  It  matters  not 

What  false  god  here  hath  falsely  been  adored, 
Or  what  life-hating  rites  these  walls  have  viewed: 
The  truly  holy  soul,  which  hath  received 
The  unattainable,  can  hallow  hell. 
Each  orb  is  to  itself  the  heart  of  Heaven ; 
And  each  belief  wherein  man  roots  his  hope 
And  lives  and  dies,  the  favorite  of  God. 
Earth's  tale  is  told  in  Heaven,  Heaven's  told  in  earth 
Since  either  'gan  one  only  faith  hath  been, 
The  faith  in  God  of  all.     A  thousand  types 
A  thousand  tribes  have  chosen.     But  the  hour 


FESTUS.  199 

Already,  hawk-like,  preens  its  wing  for  flight, 

When  all  shall  be  remassed  in  one  great  creed, 

All  being  shall  be  rebegotten,  all 

Worship  rededicate,  all  signs  afresh 

Thrice  hallowed;  the  degenerate  lapse  of  time 

Having  twice  fused  the  symbol  with  the  truth. 

All  dark  things  brightened,  all  contrariants  blent:  — 

And  truth  and  love,  per  radiating  life, 

Be  the  new  poles  of  nature ;  earth  at  last 

Joining  the  great  procession  of  the  skies. 

True  faith  in  faithful  hearts  hath  ever  been; 

But  craft  with  sanguine  darkness  all  hath  fouled. 

Now  to  the  only  true  and  Triune  God 

These  walls  shall  echo  praise,  if  never  yet. 

Bring  me  a  morsel  of  the  fire  without; 

For  I  will  make  a  sacred  offering 

To  God,  as  though  the  High  Priest  of  the  world. 

He  lacks  not  consecration  at  best  hands 

Whom  Thou   hast   hallowed.    Lord,    by  choice;    and 

these. 
The  elements  I  offer.  Thou  hast  made 
Holy,  by  making  them. 

Lucifer.  Lo  !  here  is  fire. 

I  will  await  thee  in  the  air. 

Festus.  Withdraw !  — 

O  Thou !  the  sole  and  spiritual  sun, 
Fountain  and  fane  of  Heaven's  immortal  fire. 
Whom  all  the  lives  of  all  the  elements, 
Lamb,  fish,  and  dove,  —  the  all-producing  earth, 


200  FESTUS. 

The  purifying  wave,  perfective  fire ; 
Whom  all  the  faiths  and  creeds,  and  rights  of  old 
As  now  and  ever,  to  the  end  of  Time, 
In  precognition  of  etenial  truth 
Foreshadowed    and    foretyped,    hear    Thou,    Heaven- 
throned  ! 
Wliile  one,  by  Thy  divine  salvation  graced 
A  servant  of  Thy  boundless  law  of  love. 
This  temple  redevotes  to  purer  end 
Than  they  who  built  or  who  abandoned  knew. 
The  world  is  one  great  prophecy  of  Thee, 
And  Thou  Thine  own  fulfilment.     Heaven  and  earth 
Exhaust  themselves  in  s}Tiibols  of  their  God ; 
Whose  breath  from  servile  matter  formed  at  first 
The  fading  frostwork  of  created  things. 
All  nature  typeth  Thee  and  Thine ;  —  the  moon. 
Virgin  of  Heaven,  who  nightly  bringeth  forth 
The  light  which  is  Thine  own  in  Heaven  to  earth  ; 
Thou  herald  star  which  bathest  earth  in  dew, 
And  leadst  the  sun  into  the  sea  to  his 
Eternal  baptism,  ere  yet  with  light 
He  floods  the  world  and  cleaves  the  breathing  skies 
With  all  pervading  and  inspiring  fire  ;  — 
And  thou,  sweet  earth,  which  sittest  weeping  there 
In  the  sun's  shadow,  like  the  penitent  one 
Before  His  cross,  the  darkness  of  whose  death 
Eclipsed  all  day;  thou,  too,  and  all  the  stars 
The  flock  of  light,  born  of  the  seed  of  light, 
Shall  sometime  range  in  bliss  the  spirit-pasturing  skies^ 


FESTUS.  201 

Catch  the  vivific  secret  of  the  sun, 

And  quaiF  serene  the  waters  of  tlie  sun. 

Wmg  of  the  world  which  bears  it  on  through  Heaven, 

Light!  let  us  love  thee,  we  to  thee  return 

Through  our  sun's  bosom,  at  whose  orient  ray 

The  gods  all  vanished  like  the  ghosts  of  night; 

Thee,  Light  unlimited,  whose  ancient  sheen 

Was  spiritual  man,  angelic  mind 

The  emanant  creation,  matter,  form. 

And  oval  orbit  of  the  universe. 

All  stars  are  steps  in  the  great  scale  of  Heaven 

Up  to  God's  throne,  from  Time's  last  orb  which  eyes 

The  inner  and  the  utter  infinite 

Round  to  that  highest,  deepest,  midmost  site. 

Where  Heaven's  star-music  ends,  forever  quelled 

In  the  supremest  silence  of  the  sun. 

For  through  all  spheral  forms,  the  central  circling  soul 

In  bright,  expansive  progress,  fit  to  match 

The  march  of  angels  in  the  van  of  Time, 

By-passing  all  night's  constellated  chart. 

Where  God  hath  set  His  burning  seal,  the  sun,  — 

lleseeks  thee,  lone  and  universal  light. 

Clear  glory  and  the  all-involving  Heavens. 

Glory  of  air,  and  Lord  of  light,  O  sun ! 

Great  wonder-worker,  seer  of  all  the  skies  ; 

The  gates  of  whose  house  are  the  east  and  the  west  ; 

Whom  God  begat  on  light  which  first  He  loved 

Encircling  in  Himself,  but  who  in  shades 

Of  primal  night  wast  nursed ;  whom  all  the  hours 


202  FESTUS. 

Of  Time  attend,  whose  travel  round  the  world 
Makes  one  eternal  triumph  ;  unto  whom 
All  earth  is  sacred ;  —  Yes !   O  sun,  to  thee 
The  death  dispeller,  life  elicitor. 
Shepherd  of  w^orlds,  and  harmonist  of  Heaven  — 
The  music  of  whose  golden  lyre  is  light  — 
One  vast  and  living  garden  of  the  Lord, 
Watered  by  light  streams,  where  the  vine  divine 
And  bright  flock  numbered  in  spiritual 
Perfectness,  flourish  alike  in  multitude  of  days 
Immortal  as  thy  years,  O  nightslayer! 
The  elements  thy  car  draw;  and  all  signs 
And  natural  miracles  from  thee  proceed. 
The  ever-coming  light;  bright  mystery, 
Sense  binding,  mind  attracting,  passion  taming, 
Light  bom,  light  generating,  light  all  life  !  — 
Thine  eloquent  fire  lights  aye  their  starry  heads 
Who  in  celestial  conclave  rule  with  thee, 
And  pour  upon  the  crown  of  darkness  light. 
The  seasons  are  thy  gospels,  and  thy  twelve 
In  spheral  order  and  a  starry  chain 
Through   gods,  kings,  signs,  toils,  tribes,  gems,  mira- 
cles, 
Heroes  and  peers  unite  the  universe 
In  love  to  thee,  thy  being's  boundless  law, 
Creator  s  symbol,  and  creation's   seal. 
To  thee  the  azure  serpent,  golden  scaled, 
And  noiseless  creeping  time,  that  sloughs  its  years 
And  lays  its  world-eggs  in  thy  brightness,  is 


FESTUis.  203 

Hallowed,  and  them  inspirest  thou  with  life. 

Woiid-navelled  oracle,  whose  very  light 

Blindeth  the  strongest  eye,  whose  beam  of  life, 

Death  darting,  thou  reclaimest  through  the  aye 

Eevolving  and  evolving  universe. 

Who  to  thyself  earth's  twin  chief  boons  of  life 

Dost  sanctify  for  sustenance  and  joy  — 

Symbols  of  soul  and  body  —  that  all  might 

Know  both  in  Him  thou  symbollest,  in  God. 

All  signs,  all  seasons,  records  are  of  Thee 

And  Thy  divinest  dignities  and  deeds. 

Thou  Lamb  of  God  who  didst  initiate 

Eternity,  prophetic  with  that  sign 

Of  universal  sinlessness  and  love ; 

And  typed  next  by  the  sacrificial  ox. 

Earth-embleming.     Twin  Being,  God  with  man, 

"Whose  double  nature  indicates  in  Heaven 

The  natural  and  the  spiritual.     Who 

Leading  the  soul  to  spirit  dost  progress 

Backwards  to  Deity  through  penitence;  — 

And  lion-like  —  the  lion  of  the  law, 

The  lamb  of  love  —  dost  lord  it  over  all  life 

And  rage  against  all  sin,  the  sin  of  Being, 

Dreadful  to  all  save  virgin;  seed  and  branch 

Of  the  immortal  maid  beloved  of  God, 

Bride  of  the  spiiit,  and  her  radiant  child, 

And  hallowed  in  all  worship ;  — who  dost  hold 

The  balance  of  the  just  one  o'er  the  world 

Well  weighing  work  and  faith;   with  scorpion  sting 


204  FESTUS. 

Treating:  the  carnal  conscience  self-condemned ;  — 

Who  bend'st  the  Heavens  before  Thee  like  a  bow, 

And  earth,  Thme  orbed  arrow,  shoot' st  through  air  ;  — 

Who  through  Thine  infinite  mercy  madest  Thyself 

The  scapegoat  of  this  dark  world-wilderness, 

Bearing  the  sins  of  soul  in  every  sphere ;  — 

And  from  celestial  fountains  pourest  down 

Floods  of  regenerating  grace,  wherein 

Like  some  great  life  that  dwelleth  in  the  deep 

Of  love.  Thou  art  and  livest,  man-god,  Christ !  — 

Thou  art  the  hero  of  the  universe, 

The  Theohuman  Being  erst  all  time 

And  all  incarnate  emanations ;   Thou 

Who  at  Thy  birth  didst  slay  sin's  serpent-brood. 

And  through  the  foul-stalled  stable  of  this  \\orld 

The  sourceless  circular  river  of  Thy  love 

Didst  turn ;  redeem  the  soul  of  man,  Thy  friend. 

From  death  and  hell,  destroy  the  dragon  fiend 

And  his  seven  deadly  heads,  devouring  life. 

Regain  thy  golden  apples.  Paradise! 

And  to  complete  the  mystic  cycle,  rise 

Well  proven  and  approved  of  God  to  Heaven. 

Time  tells  his  tale  by  shadows,  and  by  clouds 

The  wind  records  its  progress ;  by  dark  doubts 

The  spirit,  swiftening  on  its  heavenward  course. 

The  shadow  beareth  witness  to  the  light. 

TTiine,  Lord !  are  all  the  elements  and  worlds ;  — 

The  sun  is  Thy  bright  servant,  and  the  moon 

Thy  servant's  servant ;  —  the  round,  rushing  earth. 


FESTUS.  205 

The  lifeful  air,  the  thousand  winged  winds, 

The  Heaven-kinned  fire,  the  continental  clouds, 

Tlie  sea  broad  breasted,  and  the  tranced  lake, 

The  rich  arterial  rivers,  and  the  hills 

That  wave  their  woody  tresses  in  the  breeze. 

In  grateful  undulation,  all  are  Thine ;  — 

Thine  are  the  snow-robed  mountains  circling  earth 

As  the  white  spirits  God  the  Savior's  throne  ;  — 

Thine  the  bright  secrets,  central  in  all  orbs. 

And  rudimental  mysteries  of  life. 

The  sun-starred  night,  the  ever-maiden  morn. 

The  all-prevailing  -day,  consummate  eve. 

Confess  them  Thine  through  the  perpetual  world  ;  — 

All  art  hath  wrought   from  earth,  or  science  lured 

From  truth,  like  flame  out  of  the  fire  cloud,  are 

Thine ;  —  Thine  the  glory,  all  belongs  to  Thee, 

Finite,  indefinite,  and  infinite, 

As  mountains  to  a  world,  as  worlds  to  Heaven. 

The  high-domed  city,  and  the  toilful  town 

And  early  hamlet,  —  all  that  live  or  die. 

That  flourish  or  decay,  that  change,  or  stand 

Before  Thy  face,  unchanged,  exist  for  Thee, 

Or  are  not  at  Thy  bidding ;  Thine,  all  souls  ; 

Atom  and  world,  the  universe  is  Thine !  — 

Thou  canst   as  easily  turn  Thy  kindest  eye 

From  comprehending  the  bright  Infinite, 

To  this  crushed  temple,  where  the  wild  flower  decks 

Its  earthquake-rifted  walls,  and  the  birds  build 

In  leafage  of  its  columned  capitals, — 


206  FESTUS. 

And  to  this  crumbling  heart  I  offer  here, 

As  trust  Thine  own  eternity.     Behold ! 

Accept,  I  pray  Thee,  Lord  !   this  sacrifice ; 

These  elemental  offerings,  simple,  pure. 

Which  in  the  name  of  man  I  make  to  Thee, 

Formless,  save  prostrate  soul  and  kneeling  heart  — 

In  token  of  Thy  perfect  monarchy 

And  all-comprising  mercy.     These  are  they! 

A  flowery  turf,  a  branch,  a  burning  coal, 

A  cup  of  water,  and  an  empty  bowl  ; 

This  air-filled  bowl  is  typic  of  the  world 

Thou  fillest  with  Thy  spirit,  and  .the  soul, 

Receptive  of  Thy  life-conferring  truth!  — 

This  the  symbolic  element  wherefrom 

We  are  to  be  reborn,  wherein  made  pure ; 

Those  whom  Thou  choosest  are  to  be  redeemed 

Out  of  the  mighty  multitudes  of  men  ; 

Yet  all  as  of  one  nature  be  redeemed. 

This  coal,  torn  flaming  from  the  earth,  proclaims 

Thy  sin-consuming  mercy,  as  of  earth ; 

And  may  our  souls  ever  aspire  to  Thee, 

As  these  pale  flames  unto  the  stars :  this  turf 

Is  as  the  earthy  nature  and  abode 

We  would  subject  to  Thee ;  and  lieth  here. 

The  representative  of  every  star 

And  world-extended  matter.     Lord!  this  branch, 

Which  waveth  high  o'er  all.  Oh,  let  it  sign 

Thine  own  Eternal  Son's  humanity, 

Which  was  on  earth,  yet  ever  lives  in  Heaven, 


FESTUS.  207 

Redemptive  of  all  being.     Golden  Branch ! 

Which,  in  the  eld-time,  seer's  and  sibyl's  words, 

Full  of  dark  central  thought  and  mystic  truth, 

Foretold  should  overspread  the  spirit  world, 

And  with  its  fruit  heal  every  wound  of  Death, — 

Tree  of  eternal  life.  Thee  all  adore. 

Accept  this  prayer,  O  Savior !  that  if  men 

Can  nothing  do  but  sin,  Thou  mayst  forgive 

The  creature  crime,  and  bring  back  all  to  Thee. 

Thou  art  the  one  who  made  the  universe; 

Yet  didst  Thou  walk  on  earth;  Thou  brakest  bread 

And  drankest  wine  with  men,  betokening  so 

Thine  own  complete,  Divine  Humanity. 

May  all  obey  Thy  words  and  do  Thy  will ! 

Thy  cross  be  multiplied,  till  every  heart 

Become  a  Calvary,  whereon  is  wrought 

The'  mystery  of  our  nature  suffering  death, 

And  the  diviner  secret  of  the  soul, 

And  perfect  sacrifice;    and  where  above 

This  deadly  level  of  creation's  orb 

The  immortal  spirit,  mountain-like,   aspires 

Into  thine  infinite,  O  eternity ! 

What  though  the  written  word  be  born  no  more, 

The  spirit's  revelation  still  proceeds. 

Evolving  all  perfection;  therefore  most 

We  bless  Thee  God  our  Savior;   whoso  are 

Saved  are  in  Thee ;  the  One,  the  Twin,  Triune. 

The  antiformal  spirit  wants  no  word 

Whereby  to  mark  its  union  with  the  soul ; 


208  F  E  S  T  u  s . 

For  kindled,  like  a  sacrifice  of  old, 

By  Heaven's  spontaneous  fire,  the  soul  achieves 

In  death  its  final  cause,  accomplishing 

In  very  aspiration  being's  end. 

Thou  doest  all  things  rightly;  all  are  best, 

Sorrow,  and  joy,  and  power,  and  suffering. 

For  sorrow  comes  of  nature,  of  God  bliss ; 

The  mysteries  of  one  are  full  of  woe. 

Cavernous  darkness,  shrieks  and  fire ;  of  Heaven, 

Light,  peace,  and  jubilation,  such  as  He, 

The  all-felicitating  sun,  instils. 

Providing,  therefore,  all  things  that  must  be 

And  ought  to  be,  as  Thou  dost  and  hast  done. 

From  the  beginning  even  to  the  end. 

This    heart   let    cease    from    prayer,    these    lips    from 

praise, 
Save  that  which  life  shall  offer  pauselessly. 
Now  go  I  forth  again,  refreshed,  consoled, 
Upon  my  time-enduring  pilgrimage. 
Ho }  Lucifer ! 

Lucifer.  I  wait  thee. 

Festus.  Whither  next? 

Lucifer.     As  thou  wilt,  apposite  or  opposite. 
'Tis  light  translateth  night ;  'tis  inspiration 
Expounds  experience ;  'tis  the  west  explains 
The  east:  'tis  time  unfolds  eternity. 


FESTTJS.  209 

Scene  —  A  Metropolis  —  Public  Place. 
Festus  and  Lucifer. 

Festus.     My  thoughts  go  cloudlike  round  the  world, 
nor  rest. 
I  am  on  fire  to  realize  the  fate 
"Which  darkly  in  the  future's  depths  I  have  seen; 
Or  else  am  with  the  mightiest  folly  mocked 
Which  ever  imped  a  soul  to  madness.     Speak! 
When  shall  this  world  acknowledge  me'? 

Lucifer.  Not  now; 

Never,  till  self-compelled.     The  time  will  come. 
Have  patience.     'Tis  the  blessing  of  the  angels. 

Festus.     Patience!  say  slow  self-murder. 

Lucifer.  Wait  for  what 

Is  on  the  wing  already,  or  else  have 
The  aimless  satisfactionless  result 
As  of  a  lunge  into  the  empty  air. 

Festus.     Nay,  come  then,  pretty  patience.     Sand  by 
sand 
The  world  is  worn  away,  and  continents. 
And  oceans  take  each  other's  places  here. 
The  mountain  summit  and  the  sea's  last  depth 
Is  but  a  question  after  all  of  time. 
Most  greatest  things  are  gradual.     Star  on  star 
The  Heavens  fulfil  their  issue ;  line  by  line 
Old  ocean  saps  earth's  vaulted  base,  and  whelms 

27  V* 


210  FESTUS. 

In  transubstantiation  infinite, 
Neath  his  abysmal  bowl  the  mountain  tops ; 
Beam  after  beam  truth  warms  the  spirit  here, 
Dipped  in  substantial  lightning  of  the  sun, 
And  now  with  an  eternal  saving  saved. 
Life  to  enjoy  I  feel  one  must  conform 
Both  10  the  laws  and  by-laws  of  the  world. 
What  can  be  done  here] 

Lucifer.  Oh!  a  thousand  things, 

As  well  as  elsewhere. 

Festus.  True!  it  is  a  place 

Where  passion,  occupation,  or  reflection. 
May  find  fit  food  or  field ;  but  suits  not  me. 
My  burden  is  the  spirit,  and  my  life 
Is  henceforth  solely  spiritual. 

Lucifer.  Well ;  — 

At  the  occurrent  season,  too,  it  shall 
Be  satisfied.     It  might  be  even  now, 
From  things  about  us.     But  look,  here  comes  a  man 
Thou  knowest  well. 

Fi:sTus.  I  do.     Stop,  friend!  of  late 

I  have  not  seen  thee.     Whither  goest  thou  now? 

Friend.     I  am  upon  my  business,  and  in  haste. 

Festus.     Business!    I  thought   thou  wast  a  simple 
schemer. 

Friend.     Mayhap  I  am. 

Festus.  There  is  a  visionary 

Business,  as  well  as  visionary  faith. 

Friend.     I  have  been,  all  life,  living  in  a  mine, 


FESTUS.  211 

liancing  the  world  for  gold.     I  have  not  yet 
Fingered  the  right  vein.     Oh !  I  often  wish 
The  time  would  come  again,  which  science  prates  of, 
When  earth's  bright  veins  ran  ruddy,  virgin  gold. 

Festus.     When    the    world's    gold    melts,    all    the 
poorer  metals, 
All  things  less  pure,  less  precious,  all  beside, 
Will  vanish;  nought  be  left  but  gems  and  gold. 
If  all  were  rich,  gold  would  be  penniless. 

Lucifer.     I  have  a  secret  I  would  fain  impart 
To  one  who  would  make  right  use  of  it.     Now,  mark ! 
Chemists  say  there  are  fifty  elements, 
And  more;  —  wouldst  know  a  ready  recipe 
For  riches'?  — 

Friend.  That  indeed  I  would,  good  sir. 

Lucifer.     Get  then  these  fifty  earths,  or  elements. 
Or  what  not.     Mix  them  up  together.     Put 
All  to  the  question.     Tease  them  well  with  fire, 
Vapor,  and  trituration  —  every  way; 
Add  the  right  quantity  of  lunar  rays  ; 
Boil  them,  and  let  them  cool,  and  watch  what  comes. 

Friend.     Thrice  greatest  Hermes!  but  it  must  l;(^; 
yes ! 
I'll  go  and  get  them;  good  day, —  instantly.      [^Goes. 

Lucifer.     He'll  be  astonished,  probably. 

Festus.  He  will, 

In  any  issue  of  the  experiment. 
Perhaps  the  nostrum  may  explode  and  blow  him 
Bodv  and  soul  to  atoms  and  to  — 


212  FESTUS. 

Lucifer.  Nonsense ! 

Festus.     There  needs  no  satire  on  men's   rage  for 
gold; 
Their  nature  is  the  best  one,  and  excuse. 
And  now,  what  next  1 

Lucifer.  Why,  let  us  take  our  ease 

Beside  this  feathery  fountain.     It  is  cool 
And  pleasant,  and  the  people  passing  by 
Fit  subjects  for  two  moralists  like  us. 
Here  we  can  speculate  on  policy. 
On  social  manners,  fashions,  and  the  news. 
Now  the  political  aspect  of  the  world, 
At  present,  is  most  cheerful.     To  begin. 
Like  charity,  at  home.     Out  of  all  wrongs 
The  most  atrocious,  the  most  righteous  ends 
Are  happiest  wrought. 

Festus.  It  ofttimes  chances  so. 

Lucifer.     Take  of  the  blood  of  martyrs,  tears  of 
slaves. 
The  groans  of  prisoned  patriots,  and  the  sweat 
Wrung  from  the  bones  of  Famine,  like  parts.     Add 
Vapor  of  orphan's  sigh,  and  wail  of  all 
Whom  war  hath   spoiled,  or  law   first  fanged,   then 

gorged ;  — 
The  stifled  breath  of  man's  free,  natural  thought, — 
The  tyrant's  lies  ;  the  curses  of  the  proud ; 
The  usurpations  of  the  lawful  heir, 
The  treasonous  rebellions  of  the  wise, 
The  poor  man's  patient  prayers ;  and  let  all  these 


FESTUS.  218 

Simmer,  some  centuries,  o'er  the  slow,  red  fire 
Of  human  wrath ;  and  there  results,  at  last, 
A  glorious  constitution,  and  a  grand 
Totality  of  nothings  ;  —  as  we  see.  — 

[^Soldiers  pass  ;  music,  ^c. 
Man  is  a  military  animal. 
Glories  in  gunpowder,  and  loves  parade; 
Prefers  them  to  all  things. 

Festus.  Of  recipes, 

Enough!     Life's  but  a  sword's  length,  at  the  best. 

Lucifer.     War,  war,  still  war!   from  age   to    age, 
old  Time 
Hath  washed  his  hands  in  the  heart's  blood  of  Earth. 

Festus.     Yet,  fields  of  death !  ye  are  earth's  purest 
pride ; 
For  what  is  life  to  freedom  ]     War  must  be 
While  men  are  what  they  are ;    while  they  have  bad 
Passions  to  be  roused  up ;   while  ruled  by  men ; 
While  all  the  powers  and  treasures  of  a  land 
Are  at  the  beck  of  the  ambitious  crowd ; 
While  injuries  can  be  inflicted,  or 
Insults  be  ofl'ered ;  yea,  while  rights  are  worth 
Maintaining,  freedom  keeping,  or  life  having,    . 
So  long  the  sword  shall  shine ;  so  long  shall  war 
Continue,  and  the  need  for  war  remain. 

Lucifer.     And  yet  all  war  shall  cease. 

Festus.  It  must  and  shall. 

Some  news  seems  stirring ;  what,  I  know  not  yet. 

Lucifer.      Nor  I.      I    heard  that  one  of  Saturn's 
moons 


214  FESTUS. 

Had  flown  upon  his  face  and  blinded  him. 

Twas  also  said,  in  circles  I  frequent 

At  times,  his  outer  ring  was  falling  off. 

If  I  should  find,  I'll  keep  it.     It  might  fit 

A  little  finger  such  as  mine,  I  think. 

Poor  Saturn!  much  I  doubt  he  is  breaking  up. 

But  for  these  news,  I  know  not  what  they  be. 

Some  one  perhaps  has  lit  on  a  new  vein 

Of  stars  in  Heaven:  or  cracked  one  with  his  teeth, 

To  look  inside  it,  or  made  out  at  last 

The  cu'culation  of  the  light ;  or  what 

Think'st  thou? 

Festus.  I  know  not.     Ask! 

Lucifer.  Sir,  what's  the  news] 

Passer-by.     The  news  are  good   news,  being  none 
at  all. 

Lucifer.     Your   goodness,  sir,  I  deem  of  like   ex 
tent. 
We  heard  the  great  Bear  was  confined  of  twins. 

Stranger.     'Tis  not  unlikely,  stars  do  propagate. 

Festus.     And  so  much  for  civility  and  news. 
This  city  is  one  of  the  world's  social  poles. 
Round  which  events  revolve:  here,  dial-like, 
Time  makes  no  movement  but  is  registered. 

Lucifer.     Yon  gaudy  equipage !  hast  ever  seen 
A  drowning  dragon-fly  floating  down  a  brook. 
Topping  the  suimy  ripples  as  they  rise. 
Till  in  some  ambushed  eddy  it  is  sucked  down 
By  something  underneath  1     Thus  with  the  rich  ;  — 
Theii'  gilding  makes  their  death  conspicuous. 


FESTUS.  215 

Festus.     Some  men  are  nobly  rich,  some  nobly  poor, 
Some  the  reverse.     E-ank  makes  no  diiference. 

Lucifer.     The  poor  may  die  in  swarms   unheeded. 
They 
But  swell  the  mass  of  columned  ciphers.     Oh, 
Ye  poor,  ye  wretched,  ye  bowed  down  by  woe ! 
Thank  God  for  something,  though  it  were  but  this, 
He  fire,  ye  ashes  ! 

Festus.  Thou  art  surely  mad. 

Lucifer.     I  meant  to  moralize.     I  cannot  see 
A  crowd,  and  not  think  on  the  fate  of  man  — 
Clinging  to  error  as  a  dormant  bat 
To  a  dead  bough.     Well,  'tis  his  own  affair. 

Festus.     All  homilies  on  the  sorts  and  lot  of  men 
Are  vain  and  wearisome.     I  want  to  know 
No  more  of  human  nature.     As  it  is, 
I  honor  it  and  hate  it.     Let  that  do. 

Lucifer.     Here  is  a  statue  to  some  mighty  man 
Who    beat   his    name    on    the    drum    of  the  world's 

ear 
Till  it  was  stupefied,  and,  I  suppose. 
Not  knowing  what  it  was  about,  reared  up 
This  marble  mockery  of  mortality, 
Which  shall  outlive  the  memory  of  the  man 
And  all  like  him  who  water  earth  with  blood, 
And  sow  with  bones,  or  any  good  he  did. 
As  eagles  outlive  gnats.     But  never  mind ! 
Why  carp  at  insect  sins,  or  crum-like  crimes  ? 
The  world,  the  great  imposture,  still  succeeds ; 


216  FESTUS. 

Still,  in  Titanic  immortality, 

W-  thes  'neath  the  burning  mountain  of  its  sins. 

lESTUs.     There's  an  old  adage  about  sin  and  some 
one. 
The  world  is  not  exactly  what  I  thought  it, 
But  pretty  nearly  so ;  and  after  all, 
Tis  not  so  bad  as  good  men  make  it  out, 
Nor  such  a  hopeless  wretch. 

Lucifer.  For  all  the  world 

Not  I  would  slander  it.     Dear  world,  thou  art 
Of  all  things  under  Heaven  by  me  most  loved, 
The  most  consistent,  the  least  fallible. 
Believe  me  ever  thine  affectionate 
Lucifer.     P.  S.  Sweet,  remember  me! 

Festus.     Wilt  go  to  the  cathedral? 

Lucifer.  No,  indeed ! 

1  have  just  confessed. 

Festus.  "Well,  to  the  concert,  then^ 

Lucifer.     Some  fifteen   hundred   thousand  million 
years 
Have  passed  since  last  I  heard  a  chorus. 

Festus.  Good ! 

Lucifer.     In  sooth,  I  cannot  calculate  the  time. 
There  are  no  eras  in  Eternity, 
No  ages.     Time  is  as  the  body,  and 
Eternity  the  spirit  of  existence. 

Festus.     That  would  I  leam  and  prove. 

Lucifer.  The  finite  soul 

Can  never  leam  the  Infinite,  nor  be 
Informed  by  it,  unaided. 


FESTUS.  217 

Festus.  iJe  it  so. 

What  sKall  we  do? 

Lucifer,  I  put  myself  in  your  hands. 

Festus.     Wilt  go  on  'Change  I 

Lucifer.  I  rarely  speculate. 

Steady  receipts  are  mostly  to  my  taste. 
Besides,  I  spurn  the  system.     Take  my  arm. 

Festus.     But  something  must  be  done  to  pass  the 
time. 

Lucifer.     True ;  let  us  pass,  then,  all  time. 

Festus.  I  shall  be 

Most  happy ;  only  show  me  how. 

Lucifer.  Why,  thus. 

I  have  the  power  to  make  thy  spirit  free 
Of  its  poor  frame  of  flesh,  yet  not  by  death,  — 
And  reunite  them  afterwards  !     Wilt  thou 
Intrust  thyself  to  me] 

Festus.  In  God  I  trust. 

And  in  His  word  of  safety.     Have  thy  will. 
Where  shall  it  be  effected'? 

Lucifer.  Here  and  now. 

llecline  thou  calmly  on  yon  marble  slab. 
As  though  asleep.     The  world  will  miss  thee  not; 
Its  complement  is  perfect.     I  will  mind 
That  no  impertinent  meddler  troubles  there 
Thy  tranced  frame.     The  brain  shall  cease  its  life- 
Engrossing  business,  and  the  living  blood. 
The  wine  of  life  which  maketh  drunk  the  soul, 
Sleep  in  the  sacred  vessels  of  the  heart. 


218  FESTUS. 

Three  steps  the  sun  hath  taken  from  his  throne, 
Already,  downwards,  and  ere  he  hath  gone. 
Who  calmeth  tempests  with  his  mighty  light. 
We  will  return;  and  till  then  the  bright  ram 
Of  yonder  fountain  fails  not. 

Festus.  Thus  be  it! 

Come!  we  are  wasting  moments  here  that  now 
Belong,  of  right,  to  immortality. 
And  to  another  world. 

Lucifer.  Prepare !  — 

Festus.  And  thou? 

Lucifer.     I  vanish  altogether. 

Festus.  Excellent! 

Lucifer.     Body  and  spirit  part !  — 


Scene  —  Air, 
Lucifer  and  Festus. 

Festus.     Where,  where  am  11 

Lucifer.     We  are   in   space  and  time,  just  as  we 
were 
Some  half  a  second  since;  where  wouldst  thou  hel 

Festus.     I  would  be  in  Eternity  and  Heaven; 
Tlie  spirit,  and  the  blessed  spirit,  of    x 
Existence. 

Lucifer.     And  thou  shalt  be,  and  shalt  pass 
All  secondary  nature;  all  the  rules 


FESTUS.  219 

And  the  results  of  time:  upon  thy  spirit 

These  things  shall  act  no  more ;  their  hands  shall  be 

Withered  upon  thee,  as  the  ray  of  life 

Returns  to  that  it  came  from:  they  shall  cease 

In  thee,  like  lightning  in  the  deadening  sea. 

But  not  now ;  we  have  worlds  to  go  through,  first. 

When  spirit  hath  deposited  its  earth. 

And  brightly,  freely  flows,  self-purified 

In  its  own  action,  acted  on  by  God, 

It  holds  the  starry  transcript  of  the  skies 

Booklike  within  its  bosom,  evermore. 

But  thine  even  now,  exhausted,  not  exhaled. 

Bears  the  design  of  earthly  discontent. 

Not  sacred  satisfaction.     Unto  him 

Whose  soul  is  saved,  all  things  are  clear  as  stars. 

And,  to  the  chosen,  safety ;  —  to  none  else. 

Nor  cold  insurgent  heart,  nor  menial  mind 

Can  compass  this:  it  is  the  way  of  God: 

The  starry  path  of  Heaven  which  none  can  tread 

But  spirits  high  as  Heaven,  which  He  hath  raised ; 

Who  were  of  Him  before  all  worlds,  and  are 

Beloved  and  saved  forever  while  they  live. 

Thou  of  the  world  art  yet,  with  motives,  means, 

And  ends  as  others. 

Festus.  I  will  no  more  of  it. 

Lucifer.     Oh,  dream  it  not !     Thou   knowest   not 
the  depth 
Of  nature's  dark  abyss,  thyself,  nor  God. 
Lisrht  over-strong,  and  darkness  over-long. 


220  FESTUS. 

Blind  equally  the  eye.     Thou  mayst  yet  rise 
And  fall  as  often  as  the  sea. 

Festds.  How  comes  it,    , 

Being  a  spirit,  that  I  see  not  all 
As  spirit  should? 

Lucifer.  Thou  lackest  life  and  death. 

The  life  of  Heaven,  and  the  death  of  earth. 
Then  wouldst  thou  see,  in  harmony  with  God, 
Creation's  strife. 

Festus.     Death  alters  not  the  spirit. 

Lucifer.     Death    must   be    undergone    ere    under- 
stood. 
One  world  is  as  another.     Rest  we  here !  — 


Scene  —  Another  and  a  better  World. 
Festus  and  Lucifer. 

Festus.     What    a   sweet   world !     Which    is    this, 
Lucifer  1 

Lucifer.     This  is  the  star  of  evening  and  of  beauty. 

Festus.     Otherwise  Venus.     I  will  stay  here. 

Lucifer.  Nay : 

It  is  but  a  visit. 

Festus.  Let  us  look  about  us. 

It  is  Heaven  —  it  must  be ;  aught  so  beautiful 
Must,  I  am  sure,  have  feeling.      Cannot  worlds  live? 
I^ast  things  have  life.     Why  not  the  greatest,  too? 


FESTUS.  221 

An  atom  is  a  world,  a  world  an  atom 
Seen  relatively :  death  an  act  of  life. 

Lucifer.     This   is    a   world  where   every   loveliest; 

thing 
Lasts  longest;  where  decay  lifts  never  head 
Above  the  grossest  forms,  and  matter  here 
Is  all  transparent  substance ;  the  flower  fades  not, 
But  every  eve  gives  forth  a  fragrant  light, 
Till  by  degrees  the  spirit  of  each  flower 
Essentially  consuming  the  fair  frame 
Refines  itself  to  air;  rejoicing  thus 
The  archetypal  stores  where  nature  dwells 
In  preexistent  immortality. 
The  beautiful  die  never,  here:  Death  lies 
A  dreaming  —  he  has  nought  to  do  —  the  babe 
Plays  with  his  darts.      Nought  dies  but  what  should 

die. 
Here  are  no  earthquakes,  storms,  nor  plagues ;  no  hell 
At  heart;  no  floating  flood  on  high.     The  soil 
Is  ever  fresh  and  fragrant  as  a  rose  — 
The  skies,  like  one  wide  rainbow,  stand  on  gold  — 
The  clouds  are  light  as  rose  leaves  —  and  the  dew, 
'Tis  of  the  tears  which  stars  weep,  sweet  with  joy  — 
The  air  is  softer  than  a  loved  one's  sigh  — 
The  ground  is  glowing  with  all  priceless  ore. 
And  glistening  with  gems  like  a  bride's  bosom  — 
The  trees  have  silver  stems  and  emerald  leaves  — 
The  fountains  bubble  nectar  —  and  the  hills 
Are  half  alive  with  light.     Yet  it  is  not  Heaven. 

8* 


222  FESTUS. 

Festus.     Oh,  Low    this  world   should   pity  man's ! 
I  love 
To   walk   earth^s   woods   when   the   storm   bends   his 

bow, 
And  volleys  all  his  arrows  off  at  once  ; 
And  when   the  dead,   brown  branch   comes   crashing 

close 
To  my  feet,  to  tread  it  down,  because  I  feel 
Decay  my  foe:  and  not  to  triumph's  worse 
Than  not  to  win.     It  is  wrong  to  think  on  earth ; 
But  terror  hath  a  beauty  even  as  mildness ; 
And  I  have  felt  more  pleasure  far  on  earth. 
When,  like  a  lion  or  a  day  of  battle. 
The  storm  rose,  roared,  shook  out  his  shaggy  mane, 
And  leapt  abroad  on  the  world,  and  lay  down  red. 
Licking  himself  to  sleep  as  it  got  light ; 
And  in  the  cataract-like  tread  of  a  crowd. 
And  its  irresistible  rush,  flooding  the  green 
As  though  it  came  to  doom,  than  e'er  I  can 
Feel  in  this  fairy  orb  of  shade  and  shine. 
I  love  earth ! 

Lucifer.  Thou  art  mad  to  dote  on  earth 

When  with  this  sphere  of  beauty. 

Festus.  It  is  the  blush 

Of  being ;  surely,  too,  a  maiden  world, 
Unmarred  by  thee.     Touch  it  not,  Lucifer! 

Lucifer.     It  is  too  bright  to  tarnish. 

Festus.  Didst  thou  fail? 

Lucifer.     I  cannot  fail.    With  me  success  is  nature 


FESTUS.  223 

I  am  the  cause,  means,  consequence  of  ill. 

Thou  canst  not  yet  enjoy  a  sensuous  world  — 

Eefined  though  ne'er  so  little  o'er  thine  own. 

And  yet  wouldst  enter  Heaven.     Valhalla's  halls, 

And  skulls  o'erb rimmed  with  mead, — cities  of  gold, 

Cities  of  silver,  temples  roofed  with  light, 

God-home  and  glory-land;  Elysian  plains. 

Where  peace  and  pleasure,  endless,  cloudless  joy 

And  ever-ripening  bliss  enrapture  all ;  — 

The  Boodhist's  blessed  state  Nirvana  set 

Half  between  that  which  is  and  which  is  not ;  — 

The  high,  celestial  mountains  of  the  air. 

Bright  with  the  spiritual  hues  of  Heaven, 

So  pure  that  snow  would  stain  and  dew  defile. 

Where  Music  and  her  sister  Beauty  dwell. 

And  where  the  waters  flow  of  immortality ;  — 

The  Aztec's  burning  Heaven,  where  living  clouds, 

Indwelt  by  warrior  souls,  sweep  ceaseless  round 

The  sun,  and  rise  or  fall  as  they  desire 

An  earth-life  or  a  heaven-life  had  in  turn, 

Whose   sword-play  makes    the   lightning,    and  whose 

voice 
In  battle  thunder,  as  on  high  they  war ;  — 
The  pearly  palaces  and  the  odorous  groves. 
The  infinite  brightness  and  the  heavenly  forms, 
The  starry  transmigrations  of  all  souls. 
And  ever-bounding  joy  or  restful  bliss. 
Which  they  who  dwell  beside  the  amber  main 
Believe  await  them  in  the  world  past  death;  — 


224  FESTUS. 

Eden,  where  life  was  toilless,  and  gave  man 

All  things  to  live  with,  nothing  to  live  for ;  — 

The  Moslem's  bowers  of  love,  and  streams  of  wine, 

And  palaces  of  purest  adamant, 

"Where  dark-eyed  houris,  with  their  young  white  arms, 

The  ever  virgin,  woo  and  welcome  ye, — 

The  Chaldee's  orbs  of  gold,  where  dwells  the  primal 

light. 
Were  all  too  pure  for  thee ;  yet  shalt  thou  be 
Surely  in  Heaven,  ere  Death  unlock  the  heart. 
I  said  that  I  would  show  thee  marvels  here; 
For  here  dwell  many  angels — many  souls 
Who  have  run  pure  through  earth,  or  been  made  pure 
By  their  salvation  since.     It  is  a  mart 
Where  all  the  holy  spirits  of  the  world 
Perform  sweet  interchange,  and  purchase  truth 
With  truth,  and  love  with  love.     Hither  came  He, 
The  Son — the  Savior  of  the  universe; 
Not  in  the  stable-state  He  went  to  earth  — 
A  servant  unto  slaves;  but  as  a  God, 
Carrying  His  kingdom  with  Him,  and  His  Heaven. 

Festus.     Lo,  here  are  spirits !  and  all  seem  to  love 
Each  other. 

Lucifer.      He  hath  only  half  a  heart 
Who  loves  not  all. 

Festus.  Speak  for  me  to  some  angel. 

See,  here  is  one,  a  very  soul  of  beauty: 
It  is  the  muse.     I  know  her  by  the  lyre 
Hung  on  her  arm,  and  eye  like  fount  of  fire. 


FESTUS.  225 

Muse.     Mortal,  approach !     I  am  the  holy  Muse, 
Whom  all  the  great  and  bright  of  spirit  choose  — 
Tis  I  who  breathe  my  soul  into  the  lips 
Of  those  great  lights  whom  death  nor  time  eclipse: 
'Tis  I  who  wing  the  loving  heart  with  song, 
And  set  its  sighs  to  music  on  the  tongue: 
It  is  I  who  watch,  and,  with  sweet  dreams,  reward 
The  starry  slumbers  of  the  youthful  bard ; 
For  I  love  every  thing  that  is  sweet  and  bright, 
And  but  this  morn,  with  the  first  wink  of  light, 
A  sunbeam  left  the  sun,  and,  as  it  sped, 
I  followed,  watched,  and  listened  what  it  said: 
Wherefore,  with  all  this  brightness  am  I  given 
From  sun  to  earth  1     Am  I  not  fit  for  Heaven  ? 
From  God   I    came  once ;    and,  though  worlds   have 

passed. 
Ages,  and  dooms,  yet  I  am  light  to  the  last. 
Whatever  God  hath  once  bent  to  His  will 
Is  sacred:  so  the  world's  to  be  loved  still. 
WTiat  of  this  swift,  this  bright,  but  downward  being, 
Too  burning  to  be  borne  —  too  brief  for  seeing'? 
What  is  mine  aim  —  mine  end?     I  would  not  die 
In  dust,  or  water,  or  an  idiot's  eye; 
I  would  not  cease  in  blood,  nor  end  in  fire. 
Nor  light  the  loveless  to  their  low  desire: 
No ;  let  me  perish  on  the  poet's  page. 
Where  he  kisses  from  his  beauty's  brow  all  age ; 
Spelling  it  fair  for  aye,  and  wrinkle  scorning. 
As  when  first  that  brow  brake  on  him  like  a  morning. 

29 


226  FESTUS. 

But  yet  I  cannot  quit  this  line  I  tread, 

Though  it  lead  and  leave  me  to  the  eyeless  dead: 

It  is  mine  errand:  'tis  for  this  I  come. 

And  live,  and  die,  and  go  down  to  my  doom. 

This  is  my  fate  —  right  and  bright  to  speed  on. 

God  is  His  own  God:  fate  and  fall  are  one. 

Straight  from  the  sun  I  go,  like  life  from  God, 

Which  hits,  now  on  a  Heaven,  now  on  a  clod. 

But,  spite  of  all,  the  world's  air  warps  our  way. 

And  crops  the  roses  off  the  cheek  of  day; 

As  some  false  friend,  who  holds  our  fall  in  trust, 

Oils  our  decline,  and  hands  us  to  the  dust. 

Where  are  the   sunbeams  gone  of  the   young,  green 

earth  1 
Search  dust   and  night :    our  death  makes   clear  our 

birth. 
It  said  —  and  saw  earth ;  and  one  moment  more 
Fell  bright  beside  a  vine-shadowed  cottage  door : 
In  it  came  —  glanced  upon  a  glowing  page. 
Where,  youth  forestalling  and  foreshortening  age  — 
Weak  with  the  work  of  thought,  a  boyish  bard, 
Sate  suing  night  and  stars  for  his  reward. 
The  sunbeam  swerved  and  grew,  a  breathing  dim, 
For  the  first  time,  as  it  lit  and  looked  on  him: 
His  forehead  faded  —  pale  his  lip  and  dry  — 
Hollow  his  cheek  —  and  fever  fed  his  eye. 
Clouds  lay  about  his  brain,  as  on  a  hill. 
Quick    with    the    thunder    thought,    and     lightning 

wiU. 


FESTUS.  227 

His  clenched   hand   shook  from  its   more  than   mid- 
night clasp, 
Till  his  pen  fluttered  like  a  winged  asp ; 
Save  that  no  deadly  poison  blacked  its  lips : 
'Twas  his  to  life-enlighten,  not  eclipse; 
Nor  would  he  shade  one  atom  of  another. 
To  have  a  sun  his  slave,  a* god  his  brother. 
The  young  moon  laid  her  down  as  one  who  dies, 
Knowing  that  death  can  be  no  sacrifice. 
For  that  the  sun,  her  god,  through   nature's  night 
Shall  make  her  bosom  to  grow  great  with  light. 
Still  he  sate,  though  his  lamp  sunk ;  and  he  strained 
His  eyes  to  work  the  nightness  which  remained. 
Vain  pain !    he  could  not  make  the  light  he  wanted, 
And  soon  thought's  wizai'd  ring  gets  disenchanted. 
When   earth   was   dayed  —  was   morrowed  —  the   first 

ray 
Perched  on  his  pen,  and  diamonded  its  way ;  — 
The  sunray  that  I  watched ;  which,  proud  to  mark 
The  line  it  loved  as  deathless,  there  died  dark  — 
Died  in  the  only  path  it  would  have  trod. 
Were  there  as  many  ways  as  worlds  to  God, — 
There,  in  the  eye  of  God  again  to  burn. 
As  all  man's  glory  unto  God's  must  turn. 
And  so  may  sunbeams  ever  guide  his  pen, 
And  God  his  heart,  who  lights  the  morn  of  men ; 
For  this  life  is  but  Being's  first  faint  ray ; 
And  sun  on  sun,  and  Heaven    on   Heaven,  make  up 
God's  day. 


228  FESTUS. 

And  were  there  suns  in  day  as  stars  in  night, 
They  would  show  but  like  one  ray  from  out  His  full- 
sphered  light: 
As  but  one  momentary  gleam  would  fly ; 
Or,  as  years,  the  arrows  of  eteraity. 

Festus.     Poets  are  all  who  love  —  who   feel    great 
truths  — 
And  tell  them ;  and  the  truth  of  truths  is  love. 
There  was  a  time  —  Oh,  I  remember  well ! 
'NMien,  like  a  sea-shell  with  its  seaborn  strain, 
My  soul  aye  rang  with  music  of  the  lyre ; 
And  my  heart  shed  its  lore  as  leaves  their  dew  — 
A  honey  dew,  and  throve  on  what  it  shed. 
All  things  I  loved;   but  song  I  loved  in  chief 
Imagination  is  the  air  of  mind  ; 
Judgment  its  earth,  and  memory  its  main  ; 
Passion  its  fire.     I  was  at  home  in  Heaven : 
Swiftlike  I  lived  above :  once  touching  earth, 
The  meanest  thing  might  master  me:  long  wings 
But  baffled.     Still  and  still  I  harped  on  song. 
Oh !  to  create  within  the  mind  is  bliss ; 
And,  shaping  forth  the  lofty  thought,  or  lovely. 
We    seek    not,    need    not    Heaven  ;    and   when    the 

thought. 
Cloudy  and  shapeless,  first  forms  on  the  mind. 
Slow  darkening  into  some  gigantic  make, 
How  the  heart  shakes  with  pride  and  fear,  as  Heaven 
Quakes  under  its  own  thunder;  or,  as  might 
Of  old,  the  mortal  mother  of  a  god, 


FESTUS.  ^^29 

When  first  she  saw  him  lessening  up  the  skies. 

And  I  began  the  toil  di\ine  of  verse, 

Which,  like  a  burning  bush,  doth  guest  a  god. 

But  this  was  only  wing-flapping  —  not  flight; 

The  pawing  of  the  courser  ere  he  win ; 

Till,  by  degrees,  from  wrestling  with  my  soul, 

I  gathered  strength  to  keep  the  fleet  thoughts  fast, 

And  made  them  bless  me.     Yes,  there  was  a  time 

When  tomes  of  ancient  song  held  eye  and  heart  — 

Were  the  sole  lore  I  recked  of:  the  great  bards 

Of  Greece,  of  Rome,  and  mine  own  master  land. 

And  they  who  in  the  holy  book  are  deathless, — 

Men  who  have  vulgarized  sublimity. 

And  bought  up  truth  for  the  nations ;  parted  it. 

As  soldiers  lotted  once  the  'garb  of  God,  — 

Men  who   have   forged    gods — uttered — made   them 

pass: 
In  whose  words,  to  be  read  with  many  a  heaving 
Of  the  heart,  is  a  power,  like  wind  in  rain  — 
Sons  of  the  sons  of  God,  who,  in  olden  days, 
Did   leave    their    passionless    Heaven    for    earth    and 

woman, 
Brought  an  immortal  to  a  mortal  breast. 
And,  like  a  rainbow  clasping  the  sweet  earth, 
And  melting  in  the  covenant  of  love, 
Left  here  a  bright  precipitate  of  soul, 
Which  lives  forever  through  the  lines  of  men, 
Flashing,  by  fits,  like  fire  from  an  enemy's  front  — 
Whose  thought^,  like  bars  of  sunshine  in  shut  rooms. 


230  FESTUS, 

Mid  gloom,  all  glory,  win  the  world  to  light  — 
'Who  make  their  very  follies  like  their  souls  ; 
And  lik':'-  the  young  moon  with  a  ragged  edge, 
Still,  in  their  imperfection,  beautiful  — 
Whose  weaknesses  are  lovely  as  their  strengths, 
Like  the  white  nebulous  matter  between   stars, 
^Vhich,  if  not  light,  at  least  is  likest  light, — 
Men  whom  we  build  our  love  round  like  an  arch 
Of  ti-iumph,  as  they  pass  us  on  their  way 
To  glory  and  to  immortality; 

Men  whose  great  thoughts  possess  us  like  a  passion 
Through    every    limb    and    the   whole    heart ;     whose 

words 
Haunt  us  as  eagles  haunt  the  mountain  air; 
Thoughts    which    command    all    coming    times    and 

minds, 
As  from  a  tower  a  warden,  —  fix  themselves 
Deep  in  the  heart  as  meteor  stones  in  earth. 
Dropped  from  some  higher  sphere  ;  the  words  of  gods, 
And  fragments  of  the  undeemed  tongues  of  Heaven  ; 
Men  who  walk  up  to  fame  as  to  a  friend 
Or  their  own  house,  which  from  the  wrongful  heir 
They  have  wrested,  from  the  world's  hard  hand  and 

gripe,— 
Men  who,  like  Death,  all  bone,  but  all  unarmed, 
Plave  ta'en  the  giant  world  by  the  throat,  and  thrown 

him ; 
And   made   him   swear   to   maintain   their  name  and 

fame 


FESTUS.  231 

At  peril  of  his  life — who  shed  great  thoughts 
As  easily  as  an  oak  looseneth  its  golden  leaves 
In  a  kindly  largess  to  the  soil  it  grew  on  — 
Whose    rich,    dark    ivy    thoughts,    sunned    o'er   with 

love. 
Flourish  around  the  deathless  stems  of  their  names  — 
Whose  names  are  ever  on  the  world's  broad  tongue, 
Like  sound  upon  the  falling  of  a  force  — 
Whose  words,  if  winged,  are  with  angels'  wings  — 
Who  play  upon  the  heart  as  on  a  harp. 
And  make  our  eyes  bright  as  we  speak  of  them  — 
Whose  hearts  have  a  look  southwards,  and  are  open 
To  the  whole  noon  of  nature,  —  these  I  have  waked 
And  wept  o'er,  night  by  night ;    oft  pondering  thus : 
Homer  is  gone:  and  where  is  Jove]  and  where 
The  rival  cities  seven]     His  song  outlives 
Time,    tower,    and    god  —  all    that    then    was,    save 

Heaven. 
Muse.     Yea,  but  the  poor  perfections  of  thine  earth 
Shall  be  as  little  as  nothing  to  thee  here. 

Festus.     God  must  be  happy,  who  aye  makes ;  and 

since 
Mind's  first  of  things,  who  makes  from  mind  is  blest 
O'er  men.     Thus  saith  the  bard  to  his  work: — I  am 
Thy  god,  and  bid  thee  live  as  my  God  me: 
I  live  or  die  with  thee,  soul  of  my  soul ! 
Thou  camest  and  went'st,  sunlike,  from  morn  to  eve  ; 
And  smiledst  fire  upon  my  hea^dng  heart, 
Like  the  sim  in  the  sea,  till  it  arose 


232  FESTUS. 

And  dashed  about  its  house  all  might  and  mirth, 

Like  ocean's  tongue  in  Straffa's  stormy  cave. 

Thou  art  a  weakly  reed  to  lean  upon ; 

But,  like  that  reed  the  false  one  filched  from  Heaven, 

Full  of  immortal  fire  —  immortal  as 

The  breath  of  God's  lips — every  breath  a  soul. 

Muse.     Mortal !   the  muse  is  with  thee :    leave  her 
not. 

Festus.     Once  my  ambition  to  another  end 
Stirred,  stretched  itself,  but  slept  again.     I  rose 
And  dashed  on  earth  the  harp,  mine  other  heart, 
Which,  ringing,  brake;  its  discord  ruinous 
Harmony  still ;  and  coldly  I  rejoiced 
No  other  joy  I  had,  wormlike,  to  feed 
Upon  my  ripe  resolve.     It  might  not  be : 
The  more  I  strove  against,  the  more  I  loved  it. 

Lucifer.     Come,  let  us  walk  along.     So  say,  fare 
well. 

Festus.     I  will  not. 

Muse.  No;  my  greeting  is  forever. 

Lucifer.     Well,  well,  come  on! 

Festus.  Oh!  show  me  that  sweet  soul 

Thou  brought' St  to  me  the  first  night  that  we  met. 
She  must  be  here,  where  all  are  good  and  fair : 
And  thou  didst  promise  me. 

Lucifer.  .    Is  that  not  she 

Walking  alone,  up-looking  to  thine  earth'? 
For,  lo  !  it  shineth  through  the  midday  air. 

Festus.     It  is!   it  is! 


FESTUS.  238 

Lucifer.  Well,  I  will  comt;  again.     \^Goes. 

Festus.     Knowest    thou   me,    mine   own   immortal 
love*? 
How  shall  I  call  thee  1     Say,  what  mayst  thou  be ! 

Angela.     I  am  a  spirit,  Festus  ;  and  I  love 
Thy  spirit,  and  shall  love,  when  once  like  mine, 
More  than  we  ever  did  or  can  even  now. 
Pure  spirits  are  of  Heaven,  all  heavenly. 
Yet  marvel  not  to  meet  me  in  this  guise, 
All  radiant  like  a  diamond  as  it  is. 
We  wander  in  what  way  we  will  through  all 
Or  any  of  these  worlds,  and  whereso'er 
We  are,  there  Heaven  is,  here,  and  there  too,  God. 

Festus.     Thou  dost  remember  me  ? 

Angela.  Ay,  every  thought 

And  look  of  love  which  thou  hast  lent  to  me, 
Comes  daily  through  my  memory  as  stars 
Wear  through  the  dark. 

Festus.  And  thou  art  happy,  love? 

Angela.     Yes:    I  am  happy  when  I  can  do  good. 

Festus.     To  be  good  is   to  do   good.     Who  dwell 
heret 
Are  they  all  deathless  —  happy  1 

Angela.  All  are  not: 

Some  err,  though  rarely — slightly.     Spirits  sin 
Only  in  thought ;  and  they  are  of  a  race 
Higher  than  thine  —  have  fewer  wants  and  less 
Temptations  —  many  more  joys  —  greater  powers. 
They  need  no  civil  sway:  each  rules  himself — 

30  T* 


234  F  EST  us. 

Obeys  himself:   all  live  too,  as  they  choose, 

And  the3/  choose  nought  but  good.      They  who  have 

come 
From  earth,  or  other  orb,  use  the  same   powers. 
Passion c,  and  purposes,  they  had  ere  death ; 
Although  enlarged  and  freed,  to  nobler  ends. 
With  better  means.     Here  the  hard  warrior  whets 
The  sword  of  truth,  and  steels  his  soul  against  sin. 
The  fierce  and  lawless  wills  which  trooped  it  over 
His  breast  —  the  speared  desires  that  overran 
The  fairest  fields  of  virtue,  sleep  and  lie 
Like  a  slain  host  'neath  snow ;  he  dyes  his  hands 
Deep  in  the  blood  of  evil  passions.     Mind ! 
Tliere  is  no  passion  evil  in  itself; 
In  Heaven  we  shall  enjoy  all  to  right  ends. 
Tfiere  sit  the  perfect  women,  perfect  men  ;  — 
Minds  which  control  themselves,  hearts  which  indulge 
Designs  of  wondrous  goodness,  but  so  far 
Only  as  soul  extolled  to  bliss  and  power 
Most  high  sees  fit  for  each,  divinely.     Here, 
The  statesman  makes  new  laws  for  growing  worlds, 
Tlirough  their  forefated  ages.     Here,  the  sage 
Masters  all  mysteries,  more  and   more,  from  day 
To  day,  watching  the  thoughts  of  men  and  angels 
Through  moral  microscopes ;  or  hails  afar, 
By  some  vast  intellectual  instrument, 
The  mighty  spirits,  good  or  bad,  which  range 
The  space  of  mind;  some  spreading  death  and  woe 
On  far-ofi*  worlds  —  some  great  with  good  and  life. 


FESTUS.  235 

And  here  the  poet,  like  that  wall  of  fire 

In  ancient  song,  surrounds  the  universe ; 

Lighting  himself,  where'er  he  soars  or  dives, 

With  his  own  bright  brain  —  this  is  the  poet's  heaven. 

Here  he  may  realize  each  form  or  scene 

He  e'er  on  earth  imagined ;  or  bid  dreams 

Stand  fast,  and  fairy  palaces  appear. 

Here  he  has  Heaven  to  hear  him ;  to  the  which 

He  sings,  with  manlike  voice  and  song,  the  love 

Which  lent  him  his  whole  strength,  as  is  the  wont 

Of  all  great  spirits  and  good  throughout  the  world. 

Oh !  happiest  of  happy  is  the  bard ! 

Here,  too,  some  pluck  the  branch  of  peace  whereAvith 

To  greet  a  suffering  saint,  and  show  his  flood 

Of  woe  hath  sunken :  this  I  love  to  do. 

My  love,  we  shall  be  happy  here. 

Festus.  Shall  I 

Ever  come  here  1 

Angela.  Thou  mayst.     I  will  pray  for  thee, 

And  watch  thee. 

Festus.     Thou  wilt  have,  then,  need  to  weep. 
This  heart  must  run  its  orbit.     Pardon  thou 
Its  many  sad  deflections.     It  will  return 
To  thee  and  to  the  primal  goal  of  Heaven. 

Angela.     Practise  thy  spirit  to  great  thoughts  and 
things, 
That  thou  mayst  start,  when  here,  from  vantage  ground. 
We  can  foretell  the  future  of  ourselves, 
And  fateful  only  to  himself  is  each. 


236  FESTUS. 

FestijS.     I  do  not  fear  to  die ;  for,  though  I  change 
The  mode  of  being,  I  shall  ever  be. 
World  after  world  will  fall  at  my  right  hand; 
The  glorious  future  be  the  past  despised: 
All  now  that  seemeth  bright  will  soon  seem  dim. 
And  darker  grow,  like  earth,  as  we  approach  it; 
While  I  shall  stand  upon  yon  Heaven  which  now 
Hangs  over  me.     If  aught  can  make  me  seek 
Other  to  be  than  that  lost  soul  I  fear  me. 
It  is  that  thou  lovest  me.     Heaven  were  not  Heaven 
Without  thee. 

Lucifer.  I  am  here  now.     Art  thou  ready? 

Let  us  go. 

Angela.     Well  —  farewell.     It  makes  me  grieve 
To  bid  a  loved  one  back  to  yon  false  world  — 
To  give  up  even  a  mortal  unto  death. 
Thou  wilt  forget  me  soon,  or  seek  to  do. 

Festus.     When  I  forget  that  the  stars  shine  in  air  — 
When  I  forget  that  beauty  is  in  stars  — 
When  I  forget  that  love  with  beauty  is  — 
AVill  I  forget  thee :  till  then,  all  things  else. 
Thy  love  to  me  was  perfect  from  the  first, 
Even  as  the  rainbow  in  its  native  skies: 
It  did  not  grow:  let  meaner  things  mature. 

Angela.     The  rainbow  dies  in  Heaven,  and  not  on 
earth ; 
But  love  can  never  die:  from  world  to  world. 
Up  the  high  wheel  of  Heaven,  it  lives  for  aye. 
Remember  that  I  wait  thee,  hoping,  here. 


FESTUS.  5J3T 

Life  is  the  brief  dipunion  of  that  nature 

Which  hath  been  one  and  same  hi  E'eaven  sre  ncv. 

And  shall  be  yet  again,  renewed  by  death. 

Come  to  me  when  thou  diest ! 

Festus.  I  will,  I  will. 

Angela.     Then,  in  each  other's  arms,  we  will  waft 
through  space. 
Spirit  in  spirit,  one!   or  we  will  dwell 
Among  these  immortal  groves ;  or  watch  new  worlds, 
As,  like  the  great  thoughts  of  a  Maker-mind, 
They  are  rounded  out  of  chaos :  and  we  will 
Be  oft  on  earth  with  those  we  love,  and  help  them ; 
For  God  hath  made  it  lawful  for  good  souls 
To  make  souls  good;    and  saints  to  help  the  saintly. 
That  thou  right  soon  mayst  fold  unto  thy  heart 
The  blissful  consciousness  of  separate 
Oneness  with  God,  in  Him  in  whom  alone 
The  saved  are  deathless,  shall  become,  for  thee. 
My  earliest,  earnest,  and  most  constant  prayer. 
Oh !  what  is  dear  to  creatures  of  the  earth  ] 
Life,  love,  light,  liberty  1     But  dearer  far 
Than  all  —  and  Oh!    a  universe  more  divine — 
The  gift,  which  God  endows  His  chosen  with, 
Of  His  own  uncreated  glory,  —  His 
Before  all  worlds,  all  ages,  and  reserved 
Till  after  all  for  those  He  loves  and  saves. 
As  when  the  eye  first  views  some  Andean  chain 
Of  shadowy,  rolling  mountains,  based  on  air, 
Height  upon  height,   aspiring  to  the  last. 


C38  FESTUS. 

Evei.  to  Heaven,  in  sunny  snow  sLeen,  up 

Stretching  like  angels'  pirions — nor  can  tell 

"Which  be  tb.e  loftiest  nor  the  loveliest ; 

As  when  an  army,  wakening  with  the   sun, 

Starts  to  its  feet  all  hope,  spear  after  spear 

And  line  on  line  reundulating  light. 

While  night's  dull  watchfires  reek  themselves  away  — 

So  feels  the  spirit  when  it  first  receives 

The  bright  and  mountainous  mysteries  of  God, 

Containing  Heaven,  moving  themselves  towards  us. 

In  their  free  greatness,  as  by  ships  at  sea 

Come  icebergs,  pure  and  pointed  as  a  star 

Afar  off  glittering,  of  invisible 

Depth,  and  dissolving  in  the  light  above. 

Festus.     My  prayer    shall   be   that    thy  prayer   be 
fulfilled. 
I  must  to  earth  again.     Farewell,  sweet  soul ! 

Angela.     Farewell !    I    love   thee,  and  will  oft  be 
with  thee. 

Lucifer.     I    like  earth  more   than   this:    I   rather 
love 
A  splendid  failing  than  a  petty  good ; 
Even  as  the  thunderbolt,  whose  course  is  downwards, 
Is  nobler  far  than  any  fire  which  soars. 

Festus.     I  am  determined  to  be  good  again  — 
Again  ]     When  was  I  otherwise  than  ill  ? 
Does  not  sin  pour  from  my  soul  like  dew  from  earth. 
And,  vaporing  up  before  the  face  of  God, 
Congregate  there,  in  clouds,  between  Heaven  and  me  \ 


F  E  S  T  U  S  .  239 

What  "wpnder  that  I  lack  delight  of  life '? 

For  it  is  thus  —  when  amid  the  worldV-delights, 

How  warm  soe'er  we  feel  a  moment  among  them  — 

We  find  ourselves,  when  the  hot  blast  hath  blow^n, 

Prostrate,  and  weak,  and  wretched,  even  as  I  am. 

I  wish  that  I  could  leap  from  oiF  this  star. 

And  dash  my  soul  to  atoms  like  a  glass. 

Lucifer.     I  have  done  nothing  for  thee  yet.     Thou 
shalt 
See  Heaven,  and  Hell,  and  all  the  sights  of  space, 
Whene'er  thou  choosest. 

Festus.  Not  then  now. 

Lucifer.  Up!  rise! 

Festus.     No ;   I'll  be  good ;    and  will  see  none  of 
them. 
Earth  draws  us  like  a  loadstone.     We  are  coming. 


Scene  —  A  large  Party  and  Entertainment 
Festus,  Ladies,  and  others. 

Festus.     My  Helen !  let  us  rest  a  while, 
For  most  I  love  thy  calmer  smile; 
We'll  not  be  missed  from  this  gay  throng, 
They  dance  so  eagerly  and  long ; 
And  were  one  half  to  go  away, 
1*11  bet  the  rest  would  scarce  perceive  it. 

Helen.     With  thee  I  either  go  or  stay. 
Prepared,  the  same,  to  like  or  leave  it. 


240  FESTUS. 

These  two,  perhaps,  will  take  our  places. 
They  seem  to  stand  with  longing  faces. 

Festus.     Then  sit  we,  love,  and  sip  with  me^ 
And  I  will  teach  thyself  to  thee. 
Thy  nature  is  so  pure  and  fine, 
*Tis  most  like  wine; 

Thy  blood,  which  blushes  through  each  vein, 
Rosy  champagne ; 

And  the  fair  skin  which  o'er  it  grows, 
Bright  as  its  snows. 

Thy  wit,  which  thou  dost  work  so  well, 
Is  like  cool  moselle ; 
Like  madeira,  bright  and  warm, 
Is  thy  smile's  charm; 
Claret's  glory  hath  thine  eye, 
Or  mine  must  lie ; 

But  nought  can  like  thy  lips  possess 
Deliciousness ; 

And  now  that  thou'rt  divinely  merry, 
I'll  kiss  and  call  thee  sparkling  sherry. 

Helen.     I    sometimes  dream   that   thou  wilt    leave 
me 
Without  thy  love,  even  me,  lonely; 
And  oft  I  think,  though  oft  it  grieve  me, 
That  I  am  not  thy  one  love  only : 
But  I  shall  always  love  thee  till 
This  heart,  like  earth  in  death,  stand  still. 

Festus.     I  love  thee,  and  will  leave  thee  never, 
Until  my  soul  leave  life  forever. 


FESTUS.  241 

If  earth  can  from  her  children  run, 

And  leave  the  seasons  —  leave  the  sun, — 

If  yonder  stars  can  leave  the  sky. 

Bright  truants  from  their  home  in  Heaven  — 

Immortals  who  deserve  to  die, 

Were  death  not  too  good  to  be  given, — 

If  Heaven  can  leave  and  live  from  God, 

And  man  tread  off  his  cradle  clod  — 

If  God  can  leave  the  world  He  sowed. 

Right  in  the  heart  of  space  to  fade  — 

Soul,  earth,  star.  Heaven,  man,  world,  and  God 

May  part  — not  I  from  thee,  sweet  maid. 

Ah  !  see  again  my  favorite  dance. 

See  the  wavelike  line  advance ; 

And  now  in  circles  break. 

Like  raindrops  on  a  lake: 

Now  it  opens,  now  it  closes, 

Like  a  wreath  dropping  into  roses. 

Helen.     It  is  a  lovely  scene. 
Fair  as  aught  on  earth ; 
And  we  feel,  when  it  hath  been. 
At  heart  a  dearth ; 

As  from  the  breaking  up  of  some  bright  dream  — 
The  failing  of  a  fountain's  spray-topped  stream. 

Will.     Ladies  —  your  leave  —  we'll  choose  a  Queen 
To  rule  this  fair  and  festive  scene. 

Charles.     And  it  were  best  to  choose  by  lot, 
So  none  can  hold  herself  forgot. 

[They  draw  lots:  it  falls  to  Helen. 

31  u 


242  FESTUS. 

Festus.     I  knew,  my  love,  how  this  would  be; 
I  knew  that  Fate  must  favor  thee. 

All.     Lady  fair !   we  throne  thee  Queen ! 
Be  thy  sway  as  thou  hast  been  — 
Light,  and  lovely,  and  serene. 

Festus.     Here  —  wear  this  wreath !    No  ruder  cro^vn 
Should  deck  that  dazzling  brow ; 
Or  ask  yon  halo  from  the  moon  — 
'T would  well  beseem  thee  now. 
I  crown  thee,  love;  I  crown  thee,  love; 
I  cro>vn  thee  Queen  of  me ; 
And  Oh  !  but  I  am  a  happy  land, 
And  a  loyal  land  to  thee. 
I  crown  thee,  love ;  I  crown  thee,  love ; 
Thou  art  Queen  in  thine  own  right! 
Feel !  my  heart  is  as  full  as  a  town  of  joy : 
Look !  I've  crowded  mine  eyes  with  light. 
I  crown  thee,  love ;  I  crown  thee,  love ; 
Thou  art  Queen  by  right  divine ! 
And  thy  love  shall  set  neither  night  nor  day 
O'er  this  subject  heart  of  mine. 
I  crown  thee,  love ;  I  crown  thee,  love ; 
Thou  art  Queen  by  the  right  of  the  strong! 
And  thou  didst  but  win  where  thou  mightst  have  slain, 
Or  have  bounden  in  thraldom  long. 
I  crown  thee,  love;  I  crown  thee,  love; 
Thou  art  my  Queen  for  aye; 
As  the  moon  doth  Queen  the  night,  my  love; 
As  the  night  doth  crown  the  day; 


FESTUS.  243 

I  crown  thee,  love;  I  crown  thee,  love; 
Queen  of  the  brave  and  free. 
For  Tm  brave  to  all  beauty  but  thine,  my  love ; 
And  free  to  all  beauty  by  thee. 

Helen.     Here,  in    this  court  of  pleasure,  blest  to 
reign. 
If  not  the  loveliest,  where  all  are  fair. 
We  still,  one  hour,  our  royalty  retain. 
To  out-queen  all  in  kindness  and  in  care. 
Love,  beauty,  honor,  bravery,  and  wit  — 
Was  ever  Queen  served  by  such  noble  slaves] 
The  peerage  of  the  heart  —  for  Heaven's  court  fit: 
We'll  dream  no  more  that  earth  hath  ills  or  graves. 
With  mirth,  and  melody,  and  love  we  reign : 
Begin  we,  then,  our  sweet  and  pleasurous  sway ; 
And  here,  though  light,  so  strong  is  beauty's  chain, 
That  none  shall  know  how  blindly  they  obey. 
We  have  but  to  lay  on  one  light  command  — 
That  all  shall  do  the  most  what  best  they  love; 
And  Pleasure  hath  her  punishments  at  hand, 
For  all  who  will  not  pleasure's  rule  approve. 
But  no !  there's  none  of  us  can  disobey. 
Since,  by  our  one  command,  we  free  ye  thus: 
And,  as  our  powers  must  on  your  pleasures  stay  — 
Support  —  and  you  will  reign  along  with  us. 

Festus.     Ha  !  Lucifer !     How  now  ] 

Lucifer.     I  come  in  sooth  to  keep  my  vow. 

Festus.     Thy  vow"? 

Lucifer.  To  revel  in  earth's  pleasures, 

And  tire  down  mirth  in  her  own  measures. 


244  FESTUS. 

Festus.     Go  thy  ways:  I  shrink  and  tremble 
To  think  how  deep  thou  canst  dissemble; 
For  who  would  dream  that  in  yon  breast 
The  heart  of  Hell  was  burning  1 
Or  deem  that  strange  and  listless  guest 
Some  priceless  spirit  earning  *? 
I  hear,  from  every  footstep,  rise 
A  trampled  spirit's  smothered  cries,  h- 

Charles.     Fest,  engage  fair  Marian's   hand. 

Festus.     Pass  me  ;   she  is  free  no  less 
Than  I,  who  by  my  Queen  will  stand  — 
May  it  please  her  loveliness ! 

Helen.     Festus,  we  know  the  love,  and  see, 
Which  was  with  Marian  and  thee. 

Festus.     I  will  not  dance  to-night  again. 
Though  bid  by  all  the  Queens  that  reign. 

Helen.     What,  Festus  !  treason  and  disloyalty 
Already  to  our  gentle  royalty? 

Festus.     No  —  I  was  wrong  —  but  to  forgive 
Be  thy  sublime  prerogative ! 

Helen.     Most  amply,  then,  I  pardon  thee ; 
In  proof  whereof,  come,  dance  with  me.       [^A  dance. 

Laurence.     How  sweetly  Marian  sweeps  along ! 
Her  step  is  music,  and  her  voice  is  song. 
Silver-sandalled  foot!    how  blest 
To  bear  the  breathing  Heaven  above. 
Which  on  thee.  Atlas-like,  doth  rest, 
And  round  thee  move. 
Ah  !  that  sweet  little  foot :  I  swear 
T  could  kneel  down  and  kiss  it  there. 


FESTUS.  245 

I  should  not  mind  if  she  were  Pope ; 
I  would  change  my  faith. 

Charles.  Works,  too,  we  hope. 

Laurence.      Ah !    smile   on    me   again   with    that 
sweet  smile. 
Which  could  from  Heaven  my  soul  to  thee  beguile; 
As  I  mine  eye  would  turn  from  awful  skies 
To  hail  the  child  of  sun  and  storm  arise ; 
Or,  from  eve's  holy  azure,  to  the  star 
Which  beams  and  becks  the  spirit  from  afar; 
For  fair  as  yon  star-wreath  which  high  doth  shine, 
And  worthy  but  to  deck  a  brow  like  thine ; 
Pure  as  the  light  from  orbs  which  ne'er 
Hath  blessed  us  yet  in  this  far  sphere ; 
As  eyes  of  seraphs  lift  alone 
Through  ages  on  the  holy  throne ; 
So  bright,  so  fair,  so  free  from  guile, 
And  freshening  to  my  heart  thy  smile; 
Ay,  passing  all  things  here,  and  all  above, 
To  me,  thy  look  of  beauty,  truth,  and  love. 

Harry.     Thy  friend  hath  led  his  lady  out. 

Festus.     He  looks  most  wickedly  devout. 

Fanny.     "When  introduced,  he  said  he  knew  her, 
And  had  been  long  devoted  to  her. 

Emma.     Indeed  —  but  he  is  too  gallant. 
And  serves  me  far  more  than  I  want. 
He  vows  that  he  could  worship  me  — 
Why  —  look !  he's  now  upon  his  knee  ! 


246  FESTUS. 

Lucifer.     I  quaff  to  thee  this  cup  of  wine, 
And  would,  though  men  had  nought  but  brine  — 
E*en  the  brine  of  their  own  tears, 
To  cool  those  lying  lips  of  theirs ; 
And  were  it  all  one  molten  pearl, 
I  would  drain  it  to  thee,  girl ; 
Ay,  though  each  drop  were  worth  of  gold 
Too  many  pieces  to  be  sold ; 
And  though,  for  each  I  drank  to  thee, 
Fate  add  an  age  of  misery; 
For  thou  canst  conjure  up  my  spirit 
To  aught  immortals  may  inherit; 
To  good  or  evil,  woe  or  weal  — 
To  all  that  fiends  or  angels  feel ; 
And  wert  thou  to  perdition  given, 
I'd  join  thee  in  the  scorn  of  Heaven ! 

Emma.     Oh  fie !  to  only  think  of  such  a  fate ! 

Lucifer.     Better   than   not  to   think  on't   till   too 
late. 
They'd  not  believe  me,  Festus,  if  I  told  them. 
That  Hell,  and  all  its  hosts,  this  hour  behold  them. 

Festus.     Scarcely  —  that  Devil  here  again! 
But  though  my  heart  burst  in  the  strain, 
I  will  be  happy  might  and  main ! 
So  wreathe  my  brow  with  flowers, 
And  pour  me  purple  wine, 
And  make  the  merry  hours 
Dance,  dance  with  glee  like  thine. 


FESTUS.  247 

While  thus  enraptured,  I  and  thou, 

Love  crowns  the  heart,  as  flowers  the  brow. 

The  rosy  garland  twine 

Around  the  noble  bowl, 

Like  laughing  loves  that  shine 

Upon  the  generous  soul ; 

Be  mine,  dear  maid,  the  loves,  and  thou 

Shalt  ever  bosom  them  as  now. 

Then  plunge  the  blushing  wreath 

Deep  in  the  ruddy  wine. 

As  the  love  of  thee  till  death 

Is  deep  in  heart  of  mine. 

While  both  are  blooming  on  my  brow, 

I  cannot  be  more  blest  than  now. 

Lucifer.     Thou   talk'st  of  hearts,   in  style  to  me, 
quite  fresh: 
The  human  heart's  about  a  pound  of  flesh. 

Festus.     Forgive  him,  love,  and  aught  he  says. 

Helen.     What  is  that  trickling  down  thy  face  1 

Festus.     Oh,  love,  that  is  only  wme 
From  the  wreath  which  thou  didst  twine ; 
And,  casting  in  the  bowl,  I  bound, 
For  coolness'  sake,  my  temples  round. 

Helen.     I  thought  'twas  a  thorn  which  was  tearing 
thy  brow; 
And  if  it  were  only  a  rose-thorn  was  tearing, 
Why,  whether  of  gold  or  of  roses,  as  now, 
A  crown,  if  it  hurts  us,  is  hardly  worth  wearing. 


248  FESTUS. 

Lucy.      From    what    fair    maid    hadst    thou    that 
flower? 
It  came  not  from  my  wreath  nor  me. 

Charles.     Love  lives  in  thee  as  in  a  bower, 
And  sure  this  must  have  dropped  from  thee  — 
From  thy  lip,  or  from  thy  cheek : 
See,  its  sister  blushes  speak. 
Nay,  never  harm  the  harmless  rose, 
Though  given  by  a  stranger  maid : 
'Tis  sad  enough  to  feel  that  flower 
Feels  it  must  fade. 
And  trouble  not  the  transient  love, 
Though  by  another's  side  I  sigh ; 
It  is  enough  to  feel  the  flame 
Flicker  and  die. 

And  thou  to  me  art  flame  and  flower 
Of  rosier  body,  brighter  breath ; 
But  softer,  warmer  than  the  truth  — 
As  sleep  than  death. 

Festus.     The  dead  of  night :  earth  seems  but  seem- 
ing— 
The  soul  seems  but  a  something  dreaming. 
The  bird  is  dreaming  in  its  nest. 
Of  song,  and  sky,  and  loved  one's  breast ; 
The  lapdog  dreams,  as  round  he  lies, 
In  moonshine,  of  his  mistress'  eyes: 
The  steed  is  dreaming,  in  his  stall, 
Of  one  long  breathless  leap  and  fall. 


FESTUS.  249 

The  hawk  hath  dreamt  him  thrice  of  wings 

Wide  as  the  skies  he  may  not  cleave: 

But  waking,  feels  them  clipped,  and  clings 

Mad  to  the  perch  'twere  mad  to  leave: 

The  child  is  dreaming  of  its  toys  — 

The  murderer  of  calm  home  joys ; 

The  weak  are  dreaming  endless  fears  — 

The  proud  of  how  theu'  pride  appears: 

The  poor  enthusiast  who  dies. 

Of  his  life-dreams  the  sacrifice, 

Sees,  as  enthusiast  only  can. 

The  truth  that  made  him  more  than  man ; 

And  hears  once  more,  in  visioned  trance. 

That  voice  commanding  to  advance. 

Where  wealth  is  gained  —  love,  wisdom  won, 

Or  deeds  of  danger  dared  and  done. 

The  mother  dreameth  of  her  child  — 

The  maid,  of  him  who  hath  beguiled  — 

The  youth,  of  her  he  loves  too  well  ; 

The  good,  of  God  —  the  ill,  of  hell, — 

Who  live,  of  death  —  of  life,  who  die  — 

The  dead,  of  immortality. 

The  earth  is  dreaming  back  her  youth; 

Hell  never  dreams,  for  woe  is  truth ; 

And  Heaven  is  dreaming  o'er  her  prime. 

Long  ere  the  morning  stars  of  time ; 

And  dream  of  Heaven  alone  can  I, 

My  lovely  one,  when  thou  art  nigh. 

32 


2oO  FESTUS. 

Helen.      Let    some   one    sing.      Love,  mirth,   and 
song. 
The  graces  of  this  life  of  ours, 
Go  ever  hand  in  hand  along, 
And  ask  alike  each  other's  powers. 

Lucy  sings.     For  every  leaf  the  loveliest  flower 
Which  beauty  sighs  for  from  her  bower  — 
For  every  star  a  drop  of  dew  — 
For  every  sun  a  sky  of  blue  — 
For  every  heart  a  heart  as  true. 

For  every  tear  by  pity  shed 

Upon  a  felloe v-sufTerer's  head, 

Oh !  be  a  crown  of  glory  given  ; 

Such  crowns  as  saints  to  gain  have  striven  — 

Such  crowns  as  seraphs  wear  in  Heaven. 

For  all  who  toil  at  honest  fame, 
A  proud,  a  pure,  a  deathless  name; 
For  all  who  love,  who  lo\'ing  bless, 
Be  life  one  long,  kind,  close  caress  — 
Be  life  all  love,  all  happiness. 

Lucifer.     Tell  me  what's  the  chiefest  pleasure 
Tn  this  world's  high-heaped  measure  X 

All.     Power  —  beauty  —  love  —  wealth  —  wine ! 
Lucifer.     All  different  votes  ! 


FESTUS.  251 

Fanny.  Come,  Frederic  —  thine  1 

What  may  thy  joy-judgment  be? 

Frederic.     I  scarce  know  how  to  answer  thee; 
Each,  apart,  too  soon  will  tire; 
All  together  slake  desire. 
So  ask  not  of  me  the  one  chief  joy  of  earth, 
For  that  I'm  unable  to  say ; 

But  here  is  a  wreath  which  will  lose  its  chief  worth, 
If  ye  pluck  but  one  flower  away. 
Then  these  are  the  joys  which  should  never  dispart  — 
The  joys  which  are  dearest  to  me: 
As  the  song,  and  the  dance,  and  the  laugh  of  the  heart, 
Thou,  girl,  and  the  goblet,  be. 

Lucifer.     Oh,  excellent!  the  truth  is  clear  — 
The  one  opinion,  too,  I  love  to  hear. 

Helen.     Is  this  a  Queen's  fate  —  to  be  left  alone! 
I  wish  another  had  the  throne. 
Festus!  why  art  thou  not  here, 
Beside  thy  liege  and   lady  dear? 

Festus.     My  thoughts  are  happier  oft  than  I, 
For  they  are  ever,  love,  with  thee ; 
And  thine,  I  know,  as  frequent  fly 
O'er  all  that  severs  us,  to  me ; 
Like  rays  of  stars  that  meet  in  space, 
And  mingle  in  a  bright  embrace. 
Never  load  thy  locks  with  flowers, 
For  thy  cheek  hath  a  richer  flush  ; 
And  than  wine,  or  the  sunset  hour, 
Or  the  ripe  yewbeny's  blush. 


252  FESTUS. 

Never  braid  thy  brow  with  lights, 

Like  the  sun,  on  his  golden  wa}- 

To  the  neck  and  the  locks  of  ui«rhc. 

From  the  forehead  fair  of  day. 

Never  star  thy  hand  with  stones, 

For,  for  every  dead  light  there. 

Is  a  living  glory  gone. 

Than  the  brilliant  far  more  fair. 

Nay,  nay;  wear  thy  buds,  braids,  gems! 

Let  the  lovely  never  part ; 

Thou  alone  canst  rival  them, 

Or  in  nature,  or  in  art. 

Be  not  sad ;  —  thou  shalt  not  be : 

"Why  wilt  mourn,  love,  when  with  mo? 

One  tear  that  in  thy  eye  could  start 

Could  wash  all  purpose  from  my  heart. 

But  that  of  loving  thee ; 

If  I  could  ever  think  to  wrong 

A  love  so  river-like,  deep,  pure,  and  long. 

Helen.     I  cast  mine  eyes  around,  and  fcvl 
There  is  a  blessing  wanting ; 
Too  soon  our  hearts  the  truth  reveal, 
That  joy  is  disenchanting. 

Festus.     I  am  a  wizard,  love;  and  I 
A  new  enchantment  will  supply; 
And  the  charm  of  thine  own  smile 
Shall  thine  o^vn  heart  of  grief  beguile. 
Smile  —  I  do  command  thee,  rise 
From  the  bright  depths  of  those  eyes ! 


F  E  S  T  u  s .  268 

By  the  bloom  wherein  thou  dwellest, 

As  in  a  rose-leaved  nest; 

By  the  pleasure  which  thou  tellest, 

And  the  bosom  which  thou  swellest, 

I  bid  thee  risp  from  rest; 

By  the  rapture  which  thou  causest, 

And  the  bliss  while  e'er  thou  pausest, 

Obey  my  high  behest ! 

Helen.     Dread  magician  !     Cease  thy  spell ; 
It  hath  wrought  both  quick  and  well. 

Festus.     Ah !    thou  hast  dissolved  the  charm ; 
Ah !   thou  hast  outstepped  the  ring ; 
Who  shall  answer  for  the  harm  * 
Beauty  on  herself  will  bring  ] 
Come,  I  will  conjure  up  again  that  smile  — 
The  scarce  departed  spirit.     There  it  is ! 
Settling  and  hovering  round  thy  lips  the  while, 
Like  some  bright  angel  o'er  the  gates  of  bliss. 
And  I  could  sit  and  set  that  rose-bright  smile. 
Until  it  seem  to  grow  immortal  there  — 
A  something  abstract  even  of  all  beauty, 
As  though  'twere  in  the  eye  or  in  the  air. 
Ah!  never  may  a  heavier  shadow  rest 
Than  thine  own  ringlets'  on  that  brow  so  fair ; 
Nor  sob,  nor  sorrow,  shake  the  perfect  breast 
Which  looks  for  love,  as  doth   for  death  despair. 
And  now  the  smile,  the  sigh,  the  blush,  the  tear  — 
Lo !  all  the  element's  of  love  are  here. 
Oh,  weep  not  —  wither  not  the  soul 


254  FESTUR. 

Made  saturate  with  blis« ; 

I  would  not  have  one  briny  tear 

Imbitter  beauty's  kiss. 

Nay,  weep  not,  fear  not !  woe  nor  wratti 

Can  touch  a  soul  like  thine. 

More  than  the  lightning's  blinding  path 

May  strike  the  stars  divine. 

Sing,  then,  while  thy  lover  sips, 

And  hear  the  truth  that  wine  discloses ; 

Music  lives  within  thy  lips 

Like  a  nightingale  in  roses. 

Helen  sings.     Oh!  love  is  like  the  rose, 
And  a  month  it  may  not  see. 
Ere  it  withers  where  it  grows  — 
Rosalie ! 

I  loved  thee  from  afar; 
Oh !  my  heart  was  lift  to  thee 
Like  a  glass  up  to  a  star  — 
Rosalie ! 

Thine  eye  was  glassed  in  mine 
As  the  moon  is  in  the  sea, 
And  its  shine  was  on  the  brine  — 
Rosalie ! 

The  rose  hath  lost  its  red, 
And  the  star  is  in  the  sea. 
And  the  briny  tear  is  shed  — 
Rosalie ! 


FESTUS.  255 

Festus.     What  the  stars  are  to  the  night,  my  love, 
What  its  pearls  are  to  the  sea, — 
What  the  dew  is  to  the  day,  my  love. 
Thy  heauty  is  to  me. 

Helen.     I  am  but  here  the  under-queen  of  beauty, 
For  yonder  hangs  the  likeness  of  the  goddess; 
And  so  to  worship  her  is  our  first  duty. 
The  heavenly  minds  of  old  first  taught  the  heavenly 

bodies 
Were  to  be  worshipped ;  and  the  idolatry 
Holds  to  this  hour ;  though.  Beauty !  but  of  thine. 
I  am  thy  priestess,  and  will  worship  thee. 
With  all  this  brave  and  lovely  train  of  mine ; 
Lo !    we  all  kneel  to  thee  before  thy  pictured  shrine. 
Yes  —  there,  thou  goddess  of  the  heart, 
Immortal  beauty,  there ! 
Thou  glory  of  Jove's  free-love  skies. 
E'en  like  thyself  too  fair, 
Too  bright,  too  sweet  for  mortal  eyes. 
For  earthly  hearts  too  strong ; 
Thy  golden  girdle  lift'st  and  drawest 
The  heavens  and  earth  along. 
Oh!  thou  art  as  the  cloudless  moon, 
Undimmed  and  unarrayed ; 
No  robe  hast  thou,  no  crown  save  yon  — 
Goddess !   thy  long  locks'  soft  and  sunbright  braid. 
And  there's  thy  son,.  Love — beauty's  child — 
World-known  for  strangest  powers  — 
Boy-god !  thy  place  is  blest  o'er  all ! 
Smil'st  thou  at  thoughts  of  ours? 


256  FESTUS. 

And  there,  by  thy  luxurious  side, 

The  Queen  of  Heaven  and  Jove 

Stands ;  and  the  deep  delirious  draught 

Drinks,  from  thy  looks,  of  love. 

And  lips,  which  oft  have  kissed  away 

The  thunders  from  his  brow 

Who  ruled,  men  say,  the  world  of  worlds, 

As  God,  our  God,  rules  now. 

And  thou  art  yet  as  great  o'er  this 

As  erst  o'er  olden  sky ; 

Of  all  Heaven's  darkened  deities 

The  last  live  light  on  high. 

God  after  god  hath  left  thee  lone. 

Which  lived  on  human  breath ; 

When  prayers  were  breathed  to  them  no  more, 

The  false  ones  pined  to  death. 

But  in  the  service  of  young  hearts 

To  loveliness  and  love ; 

Live  thou  shalt  while  yon  wandering  world 

Named  unto  thee  shall  move. 

No  fabled  dream  art  thou:  all  god, 

Our  souls  acknowledge  thee  ; 

For  what  would  life  from  love  be  worth, 

Or  love  from  beauty  be? 

Come,  universal  beauty,  then. 

Thou  apple  of  God's  eye. 

To  and  through  which  all  things  were  made  — 

Things  deathless — things  that  die. 

Oh!  lighten — live  before  us  there  — 


FESTUS.  257 

Leap  in  yon  lovely  form, 

And  give  a  soul.     She  comes !     It  breathes  — 

So  bright  —  so  sweet  —  so  warm. 

Our  sacrifice  is  over :  let  us  rise ! 

For  we  have  worshipped  acceptably  here ; 

And  let  our  glowing  hearts  and  glimmering  eyes, 

Overstrained  with  gazing  on  thy  light  too  near, 

Prove  that  our  worship,  Goddess,  was  sincere ! 

Festus.      I  read  that  we  are  answered.      The  soft 
air 
Doubles  its  svreetness;  and  the  fainting  flowers, 
Down-hanging  on  the  walls  in  wreaths  so  fair. 
Bud  forth  afresh,  as  in  their  birthday  bowers. 
Dew-laden,  as  oppressed  with  love  and  shame, 
The  rosebud  drops  upon  the  lily's  breast ; 
Brighter  the  wine,  the  lamps  have  softer  flame. 
Thy  kiss  flows  freer  than  the  grape  first  pressed. 

Will.     A  dance,  a  dance  ! 

Helen.  Let  us  remain ! 

Festus.     We  will  not  tempt  your  sport  again. 

Helen.     Behold  where  Marian  sits  alone. 
The  dance  all  sweeping  round. 
Like  to  some  goddess  hewn  in  stone. 
With  blooming  garlands  bound. 

Festus.     Tell  me,  Marian,  what  those  eyes 
Can  discover  in  the  skies  ]  — 

Those  eyes,  that  look,  so  bright,  so  sweet  their  hue, 
As  they  had  gained  from  gazing  on  that  view 
The  high  and  starry  beauty  of  their  blue. 

33  V* 


258  FESTUS. 

Marian.     For  earth  my  soul  hath  lost  all  love, 
But  Heaven  still  loves  and  watches  o'er  me; 
Why  should  I  not,  then,  look  above. 
And  pass  and  pity  all  before  me  1 

Festus.     Oh !  if  yon  worlds  that  shine  o'er  this 
Have  more  of  joy  —  of  passion  less  — 
I  would  not  change  earth's  checkered  bliss 
For  thrice  the  joys  those  orbs  possess  ; 
Which  seem  so  strange  their  nature  is, 
Faint  with  excess  of  happiness. 

Marian.     Thy  heart  with  others  hath  its  rest, 
And  it  shall  wake  with  me ; 
And  if  within  another  breast 
Thy  heart  hath  made  itself  a  nest, 
Mine  is  no  more  for  thee. 
Heart-breaker,  go !  I  cannot  choose 
But  love  thee,  and  thy  love  refuse  ; 
And  if  my  brow  grow  lined  while  young. 
And  youth  fly  cheated  from  my  cheek, 
'Tis,  that  there  lies  below  my  tongue 
A  word  I  will  not  speak; 
For  I  would  rather  die  than  deem 
Thou  art  not  the  glory  thou  didst  seem. 
But  if  ingirt  by  flood  or  fire. 
Who  would  live  that  could  expired 
Who  would  not  dream,  and  dreaming  die. 
If  to  wake  were  misery  1 

Festus.     Whose  woes  are  like  to  my  woes  1     What 
is  madness  ? 


F EST  us.  259 

The  mind,  exalted  to  a  sense  of  ill, 
Soon  sinks  beyond  it  into  utter  sadness. 
And  sees  its  grief  before  it  like  a  hill. 
Oh!  I  have  suffered  till  my  brain  became 
Distinct  with  woe,  as  is  the  skeleton  leaf 
Whose  green  hath  fretted  off  its  fibrous  frame, 
And  bare  to  our  immortality  of  grief 

Marian.     Like  the  light  line  that  laughter  leaves 
One  moment  on  a  bright,  young  brow  ; 
So  truth  is  lost  ere  love  believes ; 
There  can  be  aught  save  truth  below. 

Festus.     But  as  the  eye  aye  brightlier  beams 
For  every  fall  the  lid  lets  on  it. 
So  oft  the  fond  heart  happier  dreams 
For  the  soft  cheats  love  puts  upon  it. 

Marian.     I  never  dreamed  of  wretchedness  ; 
I  thought  to  love  meant  but  to  bless. 

Festus.     It  once  was  bliss  to  me  to  watch 
Thy  passing  smile,  and  sit  and  catch 
The  sweet  contagion  of  thy  breath  — 
For  love  is  catching  —  from  such  teeth ; 
Delicate  little  pearl-white  wedges. 
All  transparent  at  the  edges. 

Marian.     False  flatterer,  cease  ! 

Festus.  It  is  my  fate 

To  love,  and  make  who  love  me  hate. 

Marian.     No!  'tis  to  sue — to  gain  —  deceive  — 
To  tire  of — to  neglect — and  leave: 
The  desolation  of  the  soul 


260  FESTUS. 

Is  what  I  feel — 

A  sense  of  lostness  that  leaves  death 

But  little  to  reveal  ; 

For  death  is  nothing  but  the  thought 

Of  something  being  again  nought. 

Helen.     Cease,  lady,  cease  those  aching  sighs, 
Which  shake  the  tear-drops  from  thine  eyes, 
As  morning  wind,  with  wing  fresh  wet. 
Shakes  dew  out  of  the  violet. 
Forgive  me,  if  the  love  once  thine 
Hath  changed  itself  unsought  to  me; 
I  did  not  tempt  it  from  thy  heart, 
I  nothing  knew  of  thee ; 
And  soon,  perchance,  'twill  be  my  part. 
As  thou  now  art,  to  be. 

Marian.     I  blame  no  heart,  no  love,  no  fate, 
And  I  have  nothing  to  forgive ; 
I  wish  for  nought,  repent  of  nought. 
Dislike  nought  but  to  live. 

Helen.     Nay,  sing ;  it  will  relieve  thy  heart. 

Marian.     I  cannot  sing  a  mirthful  strain ; 
And  feel  too  much  to  act  my  part. 
E'en  of  an  ebbing  vein. 

Festus.     Our  hearts  are  not  in  our  own  hands 
"Why  wilt  thou  make  me  say 
r  cannot  love  as  once  I  loved? 

Marian.     Hear!  —  'tis  for  this  I  stay  — 
To  say  we  part  —  forever  part ; 
But,  Oh  !  how  wide  the  line 


FESTUS.  261 

Between  thy  Marian's  bursting  heart 

And  that  proud  heart  of  thine. 

And  thou  wilt  wander  here  and  there, 

Ever  the  gay  and  free; 

To  other  maids  will  fondly  swear, 

As  thou  hast  sworn  to  me; 

And  I  —  Oh!  I  shall  but  retire 

Into  my  grief  alone ;  ^ 

And  kindle  there  the  hidden  fire, 

That  burns,  that  wastes  unknown. 

And  love  and  life  shall  find  their  tomb 

In  that  sepulchral  flame:  — 

Be  happy  —  none  shall  know  for  whom  — 

I  will  not  dream  thy  name. 

Festus.     As  sings  the  swan  with  parting  breath, 
So  I  to  thee ; 

While  love  is  leaving  —  worse  than  life  — 
Forewarningly. 

Speak  not,  nor  think  thou,  any  ill  of  me, 
If  thou  wouldst  not  die  soon  and  wretchedly. 
I  cannot  waver  on  my  path 
To  shun  fair  lady's  love  or  wrath. 
Nor  condescend  the  world  to  undeceive 
Which  doth  delight  in  error  and  believe. 
Thus  then  farewell,  dear  lady,  ere  I  go : 
And  dearly  have  I  earned  my  lightest  woe. 

Oh!  if  we  e'er  have  loved,  lady, 
We  must  forego  it  now ; 


262  FESTUS. 

Though  sore  the  heart  be  moved,  lady, 

When*  bound  to  break  its  vow.     . 

I'll  alway  think  on  thee. 
And  thou  sometimes  —  on  whom,  lady  ? 

And  yet  those  thoughts  must  be 
Like  flowers  flung  on  the  tomb,  lady. 
Then  think  that  I  am  blest,  lady, 

Though  aye  for  thee  I  sigh ; 
In  peace  and  beauty  rest,  lady, 

Nor  mourn  and  mourn  as  I. 

From  one  we  love  to  part,  lady. 

Is  harder  than  to  die; 
I  see  it  by  thy  heart,  lady, 

I  feel  it  by  thine  eye. 

Thy  lightest  look  can  tell 
Thy  heaviest  thought  to  me,  lady; 

Oh!  I  have  loved  thee  well. 

But  well  seems  ill  with  thee,  lady; 
Though  sore  the  heart  be  moved,  lady. 

When  bound  to  break  its  vow  — 
Yet  if  we  ever  loved,  lady. 

We  must  forego  it  now. — 

Lucifer.     Come,  I  must  separate  you  two : 
Such  wretchedness  will  never  do. 
The  little  cloud  of  grief  which  just  appears, 
If  left  to  spread,  will  drown  us  all  in  tears, 

Emma.     Oblige  us,  pray,  then,  with  a  song. 


FESTUS.  263 

Charles.     I  am  sure  he  has  a  singing  face. 

Will.     At  church  I  heard  him  loud  and  long, 

Lucifer.     Pardon  —  but  you  are  doubly  wrong. 

Helen.     Obey,  I  beg.     Here  —  give  him  place. 

Lucifer.     I  have  not  sung  for  ages,  mind; 
So  you  must  take  me  as  you  find. 
This  is  a  song  supposed  of  one  — 
A  fallen  spirit  —  name  unkno^vn  — 
Fettered  upon  his  fiery  throne  — 
Calling  on  his  once  angel-love. 
Who  still  remaineth  true  above.  [^Sin^s, 

Thou  hast  more  music  in  thy  voice 

Than  to  the  spheres  is  given, 
And  more  temptations  on  thy  lips 

Than  lost  the  angels  Heaven. 
Thou  hast  more  brightness  in  thine  eyes 

Than  all  the  stars  which  bum, 
More  dazzling  art  thou  than  the  throne 

We  fallen  dared  to  spurn. 

Go,  search  through  Heaven  —  the  sweetest  smile 

That  lightens  there  is  thine ; 
And  through  Hell's  burning  darkness  breaks 

No  firown  so  fell  as  mine. 
One  smile  —  'twill  light ;  one  tear  —  'twill  cool ; 

These  will  be  more  to  me 
Than  all  the  wealth  of  all  the  worlds, 

Or  boundless  power  could  be. 


264'  FESTUS. 

Helen.     Entreat  him,  pray,  to  sing  again. 
Lucifer.     Any  thing  any  one  desires. 
Festus.     Your  loveliness  hath  but  to  deign 
To  will,  and  he'll  do  all  that  will  requires. 

Lucifer  sings.     Oh!  many  a  cloud 
Hath  lift  its  wing, 
And  many  a  leaf 
Hath  clad  the  spring; 
But  there  shall  be  thrice 
The  leaf  and  cloud. 
And  thrice  shall  the  world 
Have  worn  her  shroud, 
Ere  there's  any  like  thee. 
But  where  thou  wilt  be. 

Oh!  many  a  storm 
Hath  drenched  the  sun. 
And  many  a  stream 
To  sea  hath  run  ; 
But  there  shall  be  thrice 
The  storm  and  stream. 
Ere  there's  any  like  thee. 
But  in  angel's  dream ; 
Or  in  look,  or  in  love, 
But  in  Heaven  above. 

Lucy.     What  is  love]     Oh!  I  wonder  so- 
Do  tell  me  —  who  pretends  to  know? 


F  E  S  T  u  s .  265 

Frank.     Ask  not  of  me,  love,  what  is  love  ^ 
Ask  what  is  good  of  God  above  — 
Ask  of  the  great  sun  wjiat  is  light  — 
Ask  what  is  darkness  of  the  night  — 
Ask  sin  of  what  may  be  forgiven  — 
Ask  what  is  happiness  of  Heaven  — 
Ask  what  is  folly  of  the  crowd  — 
Ask  what  is  fashion  of  the  shroud  — 
Ask  what  is  sweetness  of  thy  kiss^ 
Ask  of  thyself  what  beauty  is  ;  — 
And,  if  they  each  should  answer,  I ! 
Let  me,  too,  join  them  with  a  sigh. 
Oh!  let  me  pray  my  life  may  prove, 
AVhen  thus,  with  thee,  that  I  am  love. 

Festus.     I  cannot  love  as  I  have  loved. 
And  yet  I  know  not  why; 
It  is  the  one  great  woe  of  life 
To  feel  all  feeling  die: 
And  one  by  one  the  heartstrings  snap, 
As  age  comes  on  so  chill ; 
And  hope  seems  left  that  hope  may  cease, 
And  all  will  soon  be  still. 
And  the  strong  passions,  like  to  storms, 
Soon  rage  themselves  to  rest, 
Or  leave  a  desolated  calm  — 
A  worn  and  wasted  breast ; 
A  heart  that  like  the  Geyser  spring, 
Amidst  its  bosomed  snows, 

34  w 


266  FESTUS. 

May  shrink,  not  rest — ^but  with  its  blood 

Boils  even  in  repose. 

And  yet  the  things  one  might  have  loved 

Remain  as  they  have  been, — 

Truth  ever  lovely,  and  one  heart 

Stni  sacred  and  serene ; 

But  lower,  less,  and  grosser  things 

Eclipse  the  world-like  mind. 

And  leave  their  cold,  dark  shadow  where 

Most  to  the  light  inclined. 

And  then  it  ends  as  it  began. 

The  orbit  of  our  race, 

In  pains  and  tears,  and  fears  of  life, 

And  the  new  dwelling-place. 

From  life  to  death  —  from  death  to  life 

We  hurry  round  to  God, 

And  leave  behind  us  nothing  but 

The  path  that  we  have  trod. 

Helen.     In  vain  I  try  to  lure  thy  heart 
From  grief  to  mirth ; 
It  were  as  easy  to  ward  off 
Night  from  the  earth. 

Festus.     Fill !  I'll  drink  it  tiU  I  aie  — 
Helen's  lip  and  Helen's  eye! 
An  eye  which  outsparkles 
The  beads  of  the  wine, 
With  a  hue  which  outdarkles 
The  deeps  where  they  shine. 


FESTUS.  267 

Come!  with  that  lightly  flushing  brow, 

And  darkly  splendid  eye, 

And  white  and  wavy  arms  which  now. 

Like  snow-wreaths  on  the  dark,  brown  bough, 

So  softly  on  me  lie. 

Come !  let  us  love,  while  love  we  may. 

Ere  youth's  bright  sands  be  run ; 

The  hour  is  nigh  when  every  soul 

Which  'scapeth  Evil's  dread  control, 

Nor  drains  the  Furies'  fiery  bowl, 

Shall  into  Heaven  for  aye. 

And  love  its  God  alone. 

Helen.     Now  let  me  leave  my  throne;  and  if  the 
hours 
Have  measured  every  moment  by  a  kiss. 
As  I  do  think,  since  first  ye  gave  these  flowers. 
It  was  to  teach  us  how  to  dial  bliss. 
Farewell,  dear  crown,  thy  mistress  will  not  wear, 
Save  when  she  sitteth  royally  alone. 
Farewell,  too,  throne!  not  quickly  wilt  thou  bear 
A  happier  form,  if  fairer  than  mine  own. 

Will.     The  ladies  leave  us! 

Lucifer.  Oh !  by  all  means  let  them  ; 

But  say,  for  Heaven  itself,  we'll  not  forget  them ; 
Say  we  will  pledge  them  to  the  top  of  breath. 
As  loud  as  thunder,  and  as  deep  as  death. 

Festus,  apart.     Where  is  thy  grave,  my  love  ? 
I  want  to  weep. 

High  as  thou  art  this  earth  above. 
My  woe  is  deep ; 


268  FESTUS. 

And  my  heart  is  cold  as  is  thy  gra^e, 

Where  I  can  neither  soothe  nor  save. 

VVhate'er  I  say,  or  do,  or  see, 

I  think  and  feel  alone  to  thee. 

Oh!  can  it  —  can  it  be  forgiven. 

That  I  forget  thou  art  in  Heaven  ] 

Thou  wilt  forgive  me  this,  and  more: 

Love  spends  his  all,  and  still  hath  store. 

Thou  wilt  forgive,  if  beauty's  wile 

Should  win,  perforce,  one  glance  from  me ; 

When  they,  whose  art  it  is  to  smile. 

Can  never  smile  my  heart  from  thee ; 

And  if  with  them  I  chance  to  be, 

And  give  mine  ear  up  to  their  singing, 

It,  wind-like,  only  wakes  the  sea. 

In  all  its  mad  monotony, 

Of  memory  forth  thy  music  ringing. 

Thou  wilt  forgive,  if  now  and  then 

I  link  with  hands  less  loved  than  thine ; 

Whose  gold-like  touch  makes  kings  of  men, 

But  wakes  no  will  in  blood  of  mine ; 

And  if  with  them  I  toss  the  wine. 

And  set  my  soul  in  love's  ripe  riot, 

It  echoes  not  —  this  desert  shrine. 

Where  still  thy  love  from  Heaven  doth  shine, 

Moon-like,  across  some  ruin's  quiet. 

Thou  wilt  forgive  me,  if  my  feet 

Should  move  to  music  with  the  fair ; 

When,  at  each  turn,  I  burn  to  meet 

Thy  stream-like  step  and  airy  air; 


FESTUS.  269 

And  if,  before  some  beauty  there, 

Mine  eye  may  forge  one  glance  of  gladness, 

It  is  but  the  ripple  of  despair. 

That  shows  the  bed  is  all  but  bare. 

And  nought  scarce  left  but  stony  sadness. 

Thou  wilt  forgive,  if  e'er  my  heart 

Err  from  the  orbit  of  its  love  ; 

When  even  the  bliss-bright  stars  will  start 

Earthwards,  some  lower  sphere  to  prove. 

Thou  wilt  forgive,  if  soft,  white  arms 

Embrace,  by  fits,  this  breast  of  mine ; 

When,  while  amid  their  pillowy  charms. 

My  heart  can  kiss  no  heart  but  thine ; 

And  if  these  lips  but  rarely  pine 

In  the  pale  abstinence  of  sorrow. 

It  is,  that  nightly  I  divine, 

As  I  this  world-sick  soul  recline, 

I  shall  be  with  thee  ere  the  morrow. 

Thou  wilt  forgive,  if  once  with  thee 

I  limned  the  outline  of  a  Heaven ; 

But  go  and  tell  our  God,  from  me. 

He  must  forgive  what  He  hath  given ; 

And,  if  we  be  by  passion  driven 

To  love,  and  all  its  natural  madness. 

Tell  Him,  that  man  by  love  hath  thriven, 

And  that  by  love  he  shall  be  shriven; 

For  God  is  love,  where  love  is  gladness. 

Thou  wilt  forgive,  if  clay-bound  mind 

Can  scarce  discover  that  thou  art; 


70  FESTUS. 


But  wait!  I  feel  the  outward  wind 

Rush  fresh  into  my  fluttering  heart. 

Perchance  thy  spirit  stays  in  yon  mild  star 

In  peace,  and  flame-like  purity,  and  prayer ; 

And,  Oh!  when  mine  shall  fly  from  earth  afar, 

I  will  pray  God  that  it  may  join  thine  there; 

Twere  doubling   Heaven,  that   Heaven  with   thee  to 

share. 
And,  while  thou  leadest  music  and  her  lyre. 
Like  a  sunbeam  holden  by  its  golden  hair, 
May  I,  too,  mingling  with  the  immortal  choir. 
Love  thee,  and   worship  God !   what  more  may  soul 

desire  ] 
Enough  for  me;  but,  if  there  be  . 

More,  it  shall  be  left  for  thee. 

Walter.     If  any  thing  I  love  in  chief, 
It  is  that  flowery,  rich  relief 
That  wine  doth  chase  on  mortal  metal 
Before  good  wine  begins  to  settle ; 
But  all  seem  smilingly,  serenely  dull. 
And  melancholy  as  the  moon  at  full. 
Quenched  by  their  company  they  seem. 
Like  sparks  of  fire  in  clouds  of  steam. 

Charles.     They  who  mourn  the  lack  of  wit. 
Show,  at  least,  no  more  of  it. 

Festus.     I  cannot  bear  to  be  alpne, 
I  hate  to  mix  with  men; 
To  me  there's  torture  in  the  tone 
Which  bids  me  talk  again. 


FESTUS.  271 


Like  silly  nestlings,  warned  in  vain, 

My  heart's  young  joys  have  flown ; 

While  singing  to  them,  even  then, 

They  left  me  one  by  one. 

I  en^^  every  soul  that  dies 

Out  of  this  world  of  care : 

I  envy  e'en  the  lifeless  skies, 

That  they  enshrine  thee  there; 

And  would  I  were  the  bright  blue  air 

Which  doth  insphere  thine  eyes, 

That  thou  mightst  meet  me  every  where, 

And  feel  these  faithful  sighs. 

E'en  as  the  bubble  that  is  mixed 

Of  air  and  wine  right  red. 

So  my  heart's  love  is  shared  betwixt 

The  living  and  the  dead. 

If  on  her  breast  I  lay  my  head. 

My  heart  on  thine  is  fixed:  — 

Wilt  thou  I  loose,  as  I  have  said, 

Or  keep  the  soul  thou  seek'st  1 

From  me  thou  canst  not  pass  away 

While  I  have  soul  or  sight ;  — 

I  see  thee  on  my  waking  way. 

And  in  my  dreams  thee  bright; 

I  see  thee  in  the  dead  of  night. 

And  the  full  life  of  day ; 

I  know  thee  by  a  sudden  light ; 

It  is  thy  soul,  I  say. 


272  FESTUS. 

If  yonder  stars  be  filled  with  forms 

Of  breathing  clay  like  ours, 

Perchance  the  space  that  spreads  between 

Is  for  a  spirit's  powers ; 

And  lo\ing  as  we  two  have  loved 

In  spirit  and  in  heart, 

Whether  to  space  or  star  removed, 

God  will  not  bid  us  part. 

Frank.     As   to   this   seat  —  its  late   and  fair   pos- 
sessor 
Should,  ere  she  went,  have  chosen  her  successor. 

Festus.     In  right  of  her  who  sat  thereon, 
I  think  I  might  demand  the  throne ; 
I  rather  choose  to  let  it  be. 

All.     George  shall  be  King  of  the  company! 

George.     My   loving    subjects!    I    shall   first    pro- 
mulge 
A  few  good  rules  by  which  to  indulge; 
They  are  good,  according  to  my  thinking,  ^ 
And  shall  be  held  the  laws  of  drinking. 
First  —  each  man  shall  do  what   he  chooses. 
Provided  that  he  ne'er  refuses, 
But  shall  be  sworn,  by  stand  and  stopper. 
To  drink  as  much  as  I  think  proper. 

Will.     Stay!  —  all  of  you  who  think,  with  me, 
This  law  should  pass. 
Will  please  to  signify  the  same 
By  emptying  their  glass. 


FESTUS.  273 

Walter.      Filling  again  and  emptying,  and  so  on, 
At  each  law — pari  passu,  as  we  go  on. 

George.      Secondly  —  no    man    shall    be    held    as 
mellow 
Who  can  distinguish  blue  from  yellow. 
Thirdly  —  no  man  shall  miss  his  turn  nor  toast, 
Nor  yet  give  more  than  two  at  once,  at  most. 
Fourthly  —  if  one  at  table  should  fall  under, 
There  let  him  lie  —  so  much  extinguished  thunder. 
Fifthly  —  let  all,  in  such  case,  who  still  stay. 
Like  living  lightnings,  but  the  brighter  play. 
Sixthly,  and  last  but  one  —  mind  this,  there  shan't 
Be  aught  said  that  is  not  irrelevant. 
Seventhly  —  if  any  of  these  edicts  should  not 
Be  kept,  it  shall  be  good  to  plead,  I  would  not. 

Charles.     Oh,  let  the  royal  law 
Be  writ  in  rosy  wine ! 
And  read  and  kept 
At  every  feast 
Where  wit  and  mirth  combine. 

Festus.     How  sweetly  shine  the  steadfast  stars, 
Each  eyeing,  sister-like,  the  earth ; 
And  softly  chiding  scenes  like  this. 
Of  senseless  and  profaning  mirth. 

Lucifer.     Thou  art  ever  prating  of  the  stars 
Like  an  old  soldier  of  his  scars ; 
Thou  shouldst  have  been  a  starling,  friend. 
And  not  an  earthling :  end !    ^ 

35 


274  FESTUS. 

Festus.     And  could  I  speak  as  many  times 
Of  each  as  there  are  stars  in  Heaven, 
I  could  not  utter  half  the  thoughts  — 
The  sweet  thoughts  one  to  me  hath  given. 
The  holy  quiet  of  the  skies 
May  waken  well  the  blush  of  shame, 
Whene'er  we  think  that  thither  lies 
The  Heaven  we  heed  not  —  ought  not  name. 
O  Heaven!  let  down  thy  cloudy  lids, 
And  close  thy  thousand  eyes; 
For  each,  in  burning  glances,  bids 
The  wicked  fool  be  wise. 

Lucifer.     I  can  interpret  well  the  stars. 

Charles.     Indeed !  they  need  interpreters. 

Lucifer.     Then  thus,  in  their  eternal  tongue 
And  musical  thunders,  all  have  sung 
To  every  ear  which  ear  hath  given, 
From  birth  to  death,  this  note  of  Heaven:  — 
Deathlings !  on  earth  drink,  laugh,  and  love ! 
Ye  mayn't  hereafter  —  under  or  above. 
Yes,  this  the  tale  they  all  have  told,  • 
Since  first  they  made  old  Chaos  shrink  — 
Since  first  they  flocked  creation's  fold. 
And  filled  all  air  like  flakes  of  gold 
Which  drop  yon  royal  drink: 
For  as  the  moon  doth  madmen  rule, 
It  is,  that  near  and  few  they  are ; 
And  so  in  Heaven  each  single  star 
Doth  sway  some  reasonable  fool, 


FESTUS.  275 

Whether  on  earth  or  other  sphere; 
For  what's  above  is  what  is  here. 
Moons  and  madmen  only  change ; 
What  can  truth  or  stars  derange  ] 

Edward.     Brave  stars,  bright  monitors  of  joy ! 
Right  well  ye  time  your  hours  of  warning ; 
For,  sooth  to  say,  the  eve's  employ 
Doth  wax  less  lovely  towards  the  morning. 
So  push  the  goblet  gayly  round  — 
Drink  deep  of  its  wealth  —  drink  on ! 
Our  earthly  joy  too  soon  doth  cloy, 
Our  life  is  all  but  gone ; 

And,  not  enjoy  yon  glorious  cup,  / 

And  all  the  sweets  which  lie, 
Like  pearls,  within  its  purple  well  — 
Who  would  not  hate  to  die  ? 

Wilt.     And  who,  without  the  cheering  glance 
Of  woman's  witching  eye. 
Could  stand  against  the  storms  of  fate, 
Or  cankering  care  defy? 
It  adds  fresh  brightness  to  the  bowl ; 
Then  why  will  men  repine  ] 
Content  we'll  live  with  Heaven's  best  gifts  — 
With  women,  and  with  wine. 

Harry.     Cups  while  they  sparkle  — 
Maids  while  they  sigh ; 
Bright  eyes  will  darkle  — 
Lips  grow  dry. 


276  FESTUS. 

Cheek  while  the  dew-drops 

Water  its  rose; 

Life's  fount  hath  few  drops 

Dear  as  those. 

Amis  whUe  they  tighten  — 

Hearts  as  they  heave; 

Love  cannot  brighten 

Life's  dark  eve. 

George.     Oh  !  the  wine  is  like  life ; 
And  the  sparkles  that  play 
By  the  lips  of  the  bowl 
Are  the  loves  of  the  day. 
Then  kiss  the  bright  bubble 
That  breaks  in  its  rise ; 
Oh !  love  is  a  trouble, 
As  light  when  it  dies. 

Charles.     Let  the  young   be   glad!    though   cares 
in  crowds 
Leave  scarce  a  break  of  blue, 
Yet  hope  gives  wings  to  morning  clouds ; 
And  while  their  shade  the  sky  enshrouds  — 
By  love  and  wine,  which  through  them  shine  — 
They  are  turned  to  a  golden  hue. 
Then  give  us  wine,  for  we  ought  to  shine 
In  the  hour  of  dark  and  dew. 

F  EST  us.     Well  might  the  thoughtful  race  of  old 
With  ivy  twine  the  head 

Of  him  they  hailed  their  god  of  wine, — 
ITiank  God!  the  lie  is  dead: 


FESTUS.  277 

For  ivy  climbs  the  crumbling  hall 

To  decorate  decay; 
And  spreads  its  dark,  deceitful  pall 

To  hide  what  wastes  away. 
And  wine  will  circle  round  the  brain 

As  ivy  o'er  the  brow, 
Till  what  could  once  see  far  as  stars 

Is  dark  as  Death's  eye  now. 
Then  dash  the  cup  down  !  'tis  not  worth 

A  soul's  great  sacrifice: 
The  wine  will  sink  into  the  earth, 

The  soul,  the  soul  —  must  rise. 
Charles.     A  toast! 

Frederic.     Here's  beauty's  fairest  flower  — 
The  maiden  of  our  own  birth-land ! 

Harry.     Pale  face  !  —  Oh  for  one  happy  hour 
To  hold  my  splendid  Spaniard's  hand! 

Festus.     Why  differ  on  which  is  the  fairest  form, 
When  all  are  the  same  the  heart  to  warm? 
Although  by  different  charms  they  strike, 
Their  power  is  equal  and  alike. 
Ye  bigots  of  beauty !  behold  I  stand  forth. 
And  drink  to  the  lovely  all  over  the  earth. 
Come,  fill  to  the  girl  by  the  Tagus'  waves  ! 
Wherever  she  lives  there's  a  land  of  slaves. 
And  here's  to  the  Scot !  with  her  deep-blue  eye, 
Like  the  far-off  lochs  'neath  her  hill-propped  sky. 
To  her  of  the  Green  Isle  !  whose  tyrants  deform 
The  land,  where  she  beams  like  the  bow  in  the  storm. 


278  FESTUS. 

To  the  Norman !  so  nobly,  and  stately,  and  tall ; 
Whose  charms,  ever  changing,  can  please  as  they  pall 
Two  bowls  in  a  breath!  here's  to  each  and  to  all! 
Come,  fill  to  the  English!   whose  eloquent  brow 
Says,  pleasure  is  passing,  but  coming,  and  now ; 
Oh !  her  eyes  o'er  the  wine  are  like  stars  o'er  the  sea, 
And  her  face  is  the  face  of  all  Heaven  to  me. 
And    here's    to    the    Spaniard !    that  warm,  blooming 

maid, 
With  her  step  superb,  and  her  black  locks'  braid. 
To  her  of  dear  Paris !  with  soul-spending  glance. 
Whose  feet,  as  she's  sleeping,  look  dreaming  a  dance. 
To  the  maiden  whose  lip  like  a  roseleaf  is  curled, 
And  her  eye  like  the  star-flag  above  it  unfurled ! 
Here's  to  beauty,  young  beauty,  all  over  the  world! 

Will.     Hurrah !  a  glorious  toast ; 
'Twould  warm  a  ghost. 

Festus.     It  moves  not  me.     I  cannot  drink 
The  toast  I  have  given. 

There!  —  Earth  may  pledge  it,  and  she  will  — 
Herself  and  her  beauty  to  Heaven. 
Drink  to  the  dead  —  youth's  feelings  vain! 
Drink  to  the  heart  —  the  battered  wreck. 
Hurled  from  all  passions'  stormy  main ! 
Though  aye  the  billows  o'er  it  break, 
The  ruin  rots,  nor  rides  again. 

Charles.     Friend  of  my  heart !  away  with  care. 
And  sing,  and  dance,  and  laugh; 
To  love,  and  to  the  favorite  fair. 
The  wine-cup  ever  quaff. 


FESTUS.  279 

Oh,  drink  to  the  lovely!  whatever  they  are, 

Though  fair  as  snow  —  as  light; 

For  whether  or  falling,  or  fixed  the  star, 

They  both  are  heavenly  bright. 

Out  upon  Care!  he  shall  not  stay 

Within  a  heart  like  thine; 

There's  nought  in  Heaven  or  earth  can  weigh 

Down  youth,  and  love,  and  wine. 

Then  drink  with  the  merry!  though  we  must  die, 

Like  beauty's  tear  we'll  fall ; 

We  have  lived  in  the  light  of  a  loved  one's  eye, 

And  to  live,  love,  and  die  is  all. 

Festus.     Vain  is  the  world  and  all  it  boasts: 
How  brief  love's,  pleasure's  date ! 
We  turn  the  bowl  and  all  forget 
The  bias  of  our  fate. 

George.     How  goes  the  enemy? 

Lucifer.  What  can  he  mean? 

Festus.     He  asks  the  hour. 

Lucifer.  Aha  !  then  I 

Advise,  if  Time  thy  foe  hath  been. 
Be  quick !  shake  hands,  man,  with  Eternity. 


280  FESTUS. 

Scene  —  A  Churchyard, 
Festus  AND  Lucifer  heside  a  Grave, 

Festus.     Let  years  crowd  on,  and  age  bow  down 
My  body  to  the  earth  which  gave, 
As  yon  gray,  worn  out,  crumbling  stone 
Dips  o'er  the  grave ! 
What  though  for  me  no  music  thrill. 
Nor  mirth  delight,  nor  beauty  move; 
Though  the  heart  stiffen  and  wax  still. 
And  make  no  love ; 
Still,  deep  and  bright,  like  river  gold. 
Imbedded  here  thy  soul  shall  lie  — 
Sun-grains,  that  with  the  sands  are  rolled, 
Of  memory. 

Shall  that  soul  never  burst  the  tomb. 
Draped  in  long  robes  of  living  light  ] 
Or,  worm-like,  alway  eat  the  gloom 
And  dust  of  night  ] 

Lucifer.     Oh!  life  in  sporting  on  earth  lies, 
Till  death  share  up  the  rich,  green  sod; 
But  if  the  spirit  lives  or  dies, 
Why  try  ye  Godl 

What  should  it  never  smile  nor  sigh 
From  cheeks  or  lips  but  those  beneath  1 
Doth  love  not  weigh  the  world's  vast  lie] 
Doth  life  not  death  1 


FESTUS.  281 

Festus.     I  ask  why  man  should  suffer  death  1 
Lucifer.     Answer  —  what  right  to  life  hath  he  ] 

God  gives  and  takes  away  your  breath: 

What  more  have  ye  1 

Breath  is  your  life,  and  life  your  soul; 

Ye  have  it  warm  from  His  kind  hands: 

Then  yield  it  back  to  the  great  Whole 

When  He  demands. 

Why,  deathling,  wilt  thou  long  for  Heaven] 

Why  seek  a  bright,  but  blinding  wayl 

Go,  thank  thy  God  that  He  hath  given 

Night  upon  day: 

Go,  thank  thy  God  that  thou  hast  lived, 

And  ask  no  more:  'tis  all  He  gave: 

'Tis  all  there  needs  to  be  believed  — 

God  and  the  grave. 

Festus.     For  Thee,  God,  will  I  save  my  heart ; 

For  Thee  my  nature's  honor  keep ; 

Then,  soul  and  body,  all  or  part  — 

Rest,  wake,  or  sleep  ! 


Scene  —  Space. 

Festus  and  Lucifer. 

Festus.  Listen !  I  hear  the  harmonies  of  Heaven, 
From  sphere  to  sphere,  and  from  the  boundless  round. 
Reechoing  bliss  to  those  serenest  heights 

36  X* 


2:^2  FESTus. 

Where  angels  sit  and  strike  their  emulous  harps, 
Wreathed   round   with    flowers   and   diamonded    %vith 

dew; 
Such  dew  as  gemmed  the  ever-during  blooms 
Of  Eden  winterless,  or  as  all  night 
The  Tree  of  Life  wept  from  its  every  leaf 
Unwithering.     And  now,  methinks  I  hear 
The  music  of  the  murmur  of  the  stream 
Which,  through  the  Bridal  City  of  the  Lord, 
Floweth  all  life  forever;  and  the  breath 
Through  the  star-shading  branches  of  that  Tree, 
Transplanted  now  to  Heaven,  but  once  on  earth. 
Whose  fruit  is  for  all  beings  —  breathed  of  God. 
Oh !  breathe  on  me,  inspiring  spirit-breath ! 
Oh!  flow  to  me,  ye  heart-reviving  waves; 
Freshen  the  faded  soul  that  droops  and  dies. 

Lucifer.     The  universe  is  but  the  gate  of  Heaven. 
Lo !  from  this  highest  orb,  the  crown  of  space 
And  footstool  unto  Heaven,  we  can  look  up 
And  gain  a  glimpse  of  glory  unconceived. 

Festus.     See  how  yon  angels  stretch  their  shining 

arms ; 
Wave   their  star-hunting    wings,    which    gleam    like 

glass. 
And  locks  that  look  like  Morning's  when  she  comes 
Triumphant  in  the  East.     Is  this  their  joy 
O'er  some  world  penitent  ? 

Lucifer.  Lo  !  there  it  rides  ; 

Blest  to  discharge  on  Heaven's  all-peaceful  shores 


FESTUS.  283 

Its  long-accumulated  load  of  life, 

Its  deathless  freight,  —  pilgrims  of  time  and  space. 

Yon  guilty  orb  of  hesitating  light 

Slow  looming,  there,  on  its  dark  path,  goes  up 

At  the  forewritten  -hour,  as  do  all  worlds 

To  God,  to  judgment;  and  the  earthquake  groans 

Which  rend  its  adamantine  breast  forebode 

Its  agonizing  doom. 

Festus.  And  doth  not  Heaven 

Grieve  with  the  lost,  as  gladden  with  the  saved? 

Lucifer.      How    many    immortals    mourn    at    the 
decree 
Of  righteous  wisdom,  which  alone  to  them 
Is  bliss  sufficient,  being  infinite  ] 

Festus.     If  God  hath  made  all.  He  alone  it  is 
Who  hath  to  answer  for  all. 

Lucifer.  He  hath  made. 

To  secondary  natures  it  seems  just 
That  justice  should  be  realized,  and  there 
Is  one  example  extant  in  the  skies. 

Festus.     But  wherefore  did  it  not  repent  in  time? 

Lucifer.     What  unto  us  is  time,  stands  before  God 
Eternity.     Hepentance  is  the  grief 
For,  and  effectual  abstinence  from  sin, 
Which  secondary  natures,  without  God, 
Cannot  attain  to. 

Festus.  Cloudy  and  clear  by  turns 

Thy  words  as  Heaven.     I  know  not  what  to  think. 
Nor  how  to  act. 


284  FESTUS. 

Lucifer.  It  is  natural;  and  none 

Can  aim  or  hit  but  as  appointed  them. 
There  is  but  one  great  sinner,  —  human  nature, — 
Predict  of  every  world,  and  predicate: 
The  wicked  one,  —  the  enemy  of  God, — 
To  be  destroyed  in  the  eternal  fire 
Of  His  wrath,  even  thus  in  Deity  — 
In  whom  as  they  begin  must  all  things  end. 
God  loveth  only  His  own  spirit,  so 
All  that  is  base  shall  perish.     From  the  first 
These  things  were  fixed,  and  are  and  aye  shall  be 
Consummating,  and  are  revealed  as  writ 
In  words  always  fulfilled,  and  burning  truth 
Under  the  buried  basements  of  the  skies ; 
Which,  after  overthrown,  shall  reappear. 
The  unenlightened  mind  sees  Deity 
In  all  things,  but  the  spiritual  soul 
All  things  in  God.     Now,  ere  we  higher  rise. 
Look  downwards  from  this  coping  of  the  world. 
And  know  that  down  to  the  profoundest  depth 
Of  utter  space,  where  not  an  atom  mars 
The  void  invisible,  it  were  easier  far 
To  cast  a  line  and.  calculate  its  rate. 
Or  pierce  all  space,  nor  cross  the  path  of  light, 
Than  fathom  man's  dark  heart,  or  sound  his  soul. 


F  E  S  T  u  s .  285 


Scene  —  Heaven, 
Lucifer  and  Festus  entering. 

The  Archangels.     Infinite  God  !  Thy  will  is  done : 
The  world's  last  sand  is  all  but  run: 
The  night  is  feeding  on  the  sun. 

Lucifer.     All-being  God !  I  come  to  Thee  again, 
Nor  come  alone.     Mortality  is  here. 
Thou  bad'st  me  do  my  will,  and  I  have  dared 
To  do  it.     I  have  brought  him  up  to  Heaven. 

God. 
Thou  canst  not  do  what  is  not  willed  to  be ; 
Suns  are  made  up  of  atoms,  Heaven  of  souls ; 
And  souls  and  suns  are  but  the  atoms  of 
The  body  I,  God,  dwell  in.     What  wilt  thou 
With  him  who  is  here  with  thee? 

Lucifer.  Show  him  God. 

God. 
No  being,  upon  part  of  whom  the  curse 
Of  death  rests  —  were  it  only  on  his  shadow, 
Can  look  on  God  and  live. 

Lucifer.  Look,  Festus,  look  ! 

Festus.     Eternal  fountain  of  the  Infinite, 
On  whose  life-tide  the  stars  seem  strewn  like  bubbles. 
Forgive  me  that  an  atomy  of  being 
Hath  sought  to  see  its  Maker  face  to  face. 
I  have  seen  all  Thy  works  and  wonders;  passed 


286  FESTUS. 

From  star  to  star,  from  space  to  space,  and  feel 

That  to  see  all  which  can  be  seen  is  nothing, 

And  not  to  look  on  Thee,  the  Invisible. 

The  spirits  that  I  met  all  seemed  to  say. 

As  on  they  sped  upon  their  starward  course, 

And  slackened  their  lightning  wings  one  moment  o'er 

me, 
I  could  not  look  on  God,  whate'er  I  was. 
And  thou  didst  give  this  spirit  at  my  side 
Power  to  make  me  more  than  them  —  immortal. 
So,  when  we  had  winged  through  Thy  wide  world  of 

things. 
And  seen  stars  made  and  saved,  destroyed  and  judged, 
I  said,  —  and  trembled   lest  Thou   shouldst  not   hear 

me. 
And  make  Thyself  rig!  ^^  -  ready  to  forgive,  — 
I  will  see  God,  before  I  die,  in  Heaven. 
Forgive  me.  Lord ! 

God. 

Rise,  mortal!  look  on  me. 
Festus.     Oh !  I  see  nothing  but  like  dazzling  dark- 
ness. 
Lucifer.     I  knew  how  it  would  be.     I  am  away. 
Festus.     I   am    Thy  creature,  God !    Oh,   slay  me 
not, 
But  let  some  angel  take  me,  or  I  die. 
Genius.     Come  hither,  Festus. 
Festus.  Who  art  thou? 

Genius.  I  am 


FESTUS.  287 

One  who  hath  aye  been  by  thee  from  thy  birth, 
Thy  guardian  angel,  thy  good  genius. 

Festus.     I  knew  thee  not  till  now. 

Genius.  I  am  never  seen 

In  the  earth's  low,  thick  light ;   but  here  in  Heaven, 
And  in  the  air  which  God  breathes,  I  am  clear. 
I  tell  to  God  each  night  thy  thoughts  and  deeds  ; 
And  watching  o'er  thee  both  on  earth  and  here, 
Pray  unto  Him  for  thee  and  intercede. 

Festus.     And  this  is  Heaven.     Lead  on.     Will  God 
forgive 
That  I  did  long  to  see  Him] 

Genius.  It  is  the  strain 

Of  all  high  spirits  towards  Him.     Thou  couldst  not, 
Even  if  thou  wouldst,  behold  God;    masked  in  dust, 
Thine  eye  did  light  on  darl^'  pss ;  but  when  dead, 
And  the  dust  shaken  off  the  shining  essence, 
God  shall  glow  through  thee  as  through  living  glass, 
And  every  thought  and  atom  of  thy  being 
Shall  guest  His  glory,  be  over-bright  with  God. 
Hadst  thou  not  been  by  faith  immortalized 
For  the  instant,  then  thine  eye  had  been  thy  death. 
Come,  I  will  show  thee  Heaven  and  all  angels. 
Lo  !  the  recording  angel. 

Festus.  Him  I  see 

High-seated,  and  the  pen  within  his  hand 
Plumed  like  a  storm-portending  cloud  which  curves 
Half  over  Heaven,  and  swift,  in  use  divine. 
As  is  a  warrior's  spear! 


288  FESTUS. 

Genius.  The  book,  wherein 

Are  writ  the  records  of  the  universe, 
Lies  like  a  world  laid  open  at  his  feet. 
And  there,  the  Book  of  Life,  which  holds  the  names. 
Formed  out  in  starry  brilliants,  of  God's  sons, — 
The  spirit-names  which  angels  learn  by  heart. 
Of  worlds  beforehand.     Wilt  thou  see  thine  own  1 

Festus.     My  name  is  written  in  the  Book  of  Life. 
It  is  enough.     That  constellated  word 
Is  more  to  me  and  clearer  than  all  stars. 
Henceforward  and  for  aye. 

Genius.  Raise  still  thine  eyes ! 

Thy  gleaming  throne !  hewn  from  that  mount  of  light 
Which  was  before  created  light  or  night 
Never  created,  Heaven's  eternal  base. 
Whereon  God's  throne  is  'stablished.     Sit  on  it ! 

Festus.     Nay,  I  will   forestall  nothing   more    than 
sight. 

Genius.     Turn,  then,  and  view  yon  streams  where 
spu'its  sport 
Quaffing  immortal  life,  preparing  aye 
For  higher  and  in  tenser  being  still. 
These  are  the  upper  fountains  of  the  Heavens, 
The  emanations  of  Eternity ; 
By  washing  them  in  which  they  purify 
Tlieir  e}'es  to  penetrate  the  essential  light 
In  all  things  hidden,  seen  alone  by  eyes 
Fire-spirited,  etherially  clear, 
Which,  like  the  fabled  stone,  conceived  of  fire, 


FESTUS.  289 

Son  of  the  sun,  transmutes  all  seen  to  soul. 

And  such  the  bliss  and  power  reserved  for  man; 

Yet  but  the  surface-shadow  canst  thou  see. 

The  substance  is  to  be.     Behold  yon  group 

Of  spirits  blest!     In  their  divinest  eyes 

The  Spirit  speaks,  and  shows  that  in  their  own 

All  doubt  and  want  hath  ceased,  as  death  hath  ceased 

Hither  they  come,  rejoicing,  marvelling. 

Festus.     How  all  with  kindly  wonder  look  on  me ! 
Mayhap  I  tell  of  earth  to  their  pure  sense. 
Some  seem  as  if  they  knew  me.     I  know  none. 
But  how  claim  kinship  with  the  glorified 
Unless  with  them  like-glorified'?     Yet,  yes  — 
It  is  —  it  must  be ;  —  that  angelic  spirit !  — 
My  heart  outruns  me  —  mother !  see  thy  son. 

Angel.     Child,  how  art  thou  here  ] 

Festus.     God  hath  let  me  come. 

Angel.      Hast   thou   not   come   unbidden   and   un- 
prepared ] 

Festus.     Forgive  me,  if  it  be  so.     I  am  come. 
And  I  have  ever  said  there  are  two  who  will 
Forgive  me  aught  I  do  —  my  God  and  thou ! 

Angel.     I  do  !  —  may  He  ! 

Festus.     Dear  mother,  thou  art  blessed ; 
x\nd  I  am  blessed,  too,  in  knowing  thee. 

Angel.     Son  of  my  hopes  on  earth  and  prayers  in 
Heaven! 
The  love  of  God!  Oh,  it  is  infinite, 
Even  as  our  imperfection.     Promise,  child, 

37  T 


290  FESTUS. 

That  thou  wilt  love  Him  more  and   more  for  this. 
And  for  His  boundless  kindness  thus  towards  me. 
Now,  my  son,  hear  me !  for  the  hours  of  Heaven 
Are  not  as  those  of  earth ;   and  all  is  all 
But  lost  that  is  not  given  unto  God. 
Oft  have  I  seen  with  joy  thy  thoughts  of  Heaven, 
And  holy  hopes,  which  track  the  soul  with  light. 
Rise  from  dead  doubts  within  thy  troubled  breast, 
As  souls  of  drowned  bodies  from  the  sea. 
Upwards  to  God,  and  marked  them  so  received. 
That  Oh !  my  soul  hath  overflowed  with  rapture 
As  now  thine  eye  with  tears.     But  Oh  !  my  son 
Beloved !   fear  thou  ever  for  thy  soul ! 
It  yet  hath  to  be  saved.     Nought  perfect  stands 
But  that  which  is  in  Heaven.     God  is  all-kind; 
And  long  time  hath  He  made  thee  think  of  Him ; 
Think  on  Him  yet  in  time.     Ere  I  left  earth. 
With  the  last  breath  which  air  would    spare  for  me, 
With  the  last  look  which  light  would  bless  me  with, 
I  prayed  thou  mightst  be  happy  and  be  wise  — 
And  half  the  prayer  I  brought  myself  to  God  — 
And  lo  !  thou  art  unhappy  and  unwise. 

Festus.     Blessed    one !      I    rejoice    that    thou    art 
clear. 
And  all  who  have  cared  for  me,  of  my  misdeeds. 
Thy  spirit  was  on  those  who  nurtured  me. 
All  word  and  practice  that  could  be  of  good 
Was  given  me;   so  that  my  sin  is  splendid. 
Yes !  if  I  have  sinned,  I  have  sinned  sublimely ; 


FESTUS.  291 

And  I  am  glad  I  suffer  for  my  faults. 

I  would  not  if  1  might  be  bad  and  happy. 

Angel.      God    laughs   at    ill    by   man   made,   and 

allows  it. 
The  vaunt  of  mountainous  evil  and  the  power 
To  challenge  Heaven  from  a  molehill,  child! 

JbESTUs.     God  hath  made  but  few  better  hearts  than 

mine. 
However  much  it  fail  in  the  wise  ways 
Of  the  world,  as  living  in  the  dull,  dark  streets 
Of  forms  and  follies  wherein  men  build  themselves. 
Angel.     The    goodness  of   the  heart    is    shown    in 

deeds 
Of  peacefulness  and  kindness.     Hand  and  heart 
Are  one  thing  with  the  good  as  thou  shouldst  be. 
The  splendor  of  corruption  hath  no  power 
Nor  vital  essence ;  and  content  in  sin 
Shows  apathy,  not  satisfied  control. 
Do  my  words  trouble  theel     Then  treasure  them. 
Pain  overgot  gives  peace,  as  death  does  Heaven. 
All  things  that  speak  of  Heaven  speak  of  peace. 
Peace  hath  more  might    than  war.      High  brows  are 

calm. 
Great   thoughts    are  still    as    stars ;    and    truths,  like 

suns, 
Stir  not;  though  many  systems  tend  round  them. 
Mind's  step  is  still  as  Death's;  and  all  great  things 
Which  cannot  be  controlled,  whose  end  is  good. 
Behold  yon  throne !  there,  Love,  Faith,  Hope  are  one ! 


292  FESTUS. 

There  judgment,  righteousness,  and  mercy  make 
One  and  the  same  thing.     God's  salvation  is 
His  vengeance,  and  his  wrath  glory,  as  on  earth 
Destruction  restoration  to  the  pure. 
Humanity  is  perfected  in  Heaven. 

Festus.     I  did  not  make  myself,  nor  plan  my  soul. 
I  am  no  angel  nursed  in  the  lap  of  light. 
Nor  fed  on  milk  immortal  of  the  stars, 
Nor  golden  fruit  grown  in  the  summery  suns. 
How  am  I  answerable  for  my  heart  *? 
It  is  my  master,  and  is  free  with  me. 
As  fixed  with  fate,  even  as  a  star  which  moves, 
Yet  moveth  only  on  a  certain  course 
In  certain  mode;  —  its  liberties  are  laws. 
Its  laws  tyrannic ;  I  cannot  hinder  it, 
It  cannot  hinder  God.     All  that  we  do 
Or  bear  is  settled  from  eternity ; 
Whereof  is  no  beginning,  midst,  nor  end. 
To  act,  is  ours ;  quite  sure,  whate'er  we  do. 
Whether  it  be  for  our  own  good  or  ill. 
Or  others'  ill  or  good,  it  is  for  God's 
Glor)' — the  same  and  always:  it  is  ordered. 
The  soul  is  but  an  organ,  and  it  hath 
No  power  of  good  and  evil  in  itself. 
More  than  the  eye  hath  power  of  light  or  dark. 
God  fitted  it  for  good;  and  evil  is 
Good  in  another  way  we  are  not  skilled  in. 
The  good  we  do  is  of  His  own  good  will,  — 
The  ill,  of  His  own  letting.     Doth  not  nature  — 


FESTUS.  293 

All  light  in  life,  shine  marsh-like,  too,  in  death  1 
Yea,  wandering  fires  wait  even  on  rottenness, 
Like  a  stray  gleam  of  thought  in  an  idiot's  brain. 
And  thus  I  look  on  souls  that  seem  decaying 
In  sin,  and  flying  ofl"  by  elements. 
All  may  not  live  again ;   but  all  which  do 
Must  change  perpetually  e'en  in  Heaven  ; 
And  not  by  death  to  death,  but  life  to  life. 

Angel.     No  !     Step  by  step,  and  throne  by  throne, 
we  rise 
Continually  towards  the  Infinite, 
And  ever  nearer  —  never  near  —  to  God. 

Festus.     Yet  merit  or  demerit  none  I  see 
In  nature,  human  or  material. 
In  passions  or  aflections  good  or  bad. 
We  only  know  that  God's  best  purposes 
Are  oftenest  brought  about  by  dreadest  sins. 
Is  thunder  evil,  or  is  dew  divine  1 
Does  virtue  lie  in  sunshine,  sin  in  storm  ^ 
Is  not  each  natural,  each  needful,  best'? 
How  know  we  what  is  evil  from  what  good  ? 
Wrath  and  revenge  God  claimeth  as  His  own. 
And  yet  men  speculate  on  right  and  wrong 
As  upon  day  and  night,  forgetting  both 
Have  but  one  cause,  and  that  the  same  —  God's  will  ; 
Originally,  ultimately  Him. 
All  right  is  right  divine.     A  worm  hath  rights 
A  king  cannot  despoil  him  of,  nor  sin  ; 
Yet  wrongs  are  things  necessitate,  like  wants, 


294  FESTUS. 

And  oft  are  well  permitted  to  best  ends. 
A  donble  error  sometimes  sets  us  right. 
In  man  there  is  no  rule  of  right  and  wrong 
Inherent  as  mere  man.     Why,  conscience  is 
The  basest  thing  of  all.     Its  life  is  passed 
In  justifying  and  condemning  sin  ; 
Accomplice,  traitor,  judge,  and  headsman,  too. 
But  conscience  knows  its  business  and  performs. 
Nothing  is  lost  in  nature ;   and  no  soul. 
Though  buried  in  the  centre  of  all  sin. 
Is  lost  to  God;  but  there  it  w^orks  His  will 
And  bums  conformably.     The  weakest  things 
Are  to  be  made  the  examples  of  His  might ; 
The  most  defective,  of  His  perfect  grace, 
Whene'er  He  thinketh  well.     Oh !  every  thing 
To  me  seems  good,  and  lovely,  and  immortal ; 
The  whole  is  beautiful ;  and  I  can  see 
Nought  wrong  in  man  nor  nature,  nought  not  meant  ; 
As  from  His  hands  it  comes  who  fashions  all. 
All  holy  as  His  word.     The  world  is  but 
A  revelation.     He  breathes  Himself  upon  us 
Before  our  birth,  as  o'er  the  formless  void 
He  moved  at  first,  and  we  are  all  inspired 
With  His  spirit.     All  things  are  God,  or  of  God. 
For  the  whole  world  is  in  the  mind  of  God 
What  a  thought  is  in  ours.     Why  boast  we  then 
Of  aught  1     All  that  is  good  belongs  to  God ; 
.\nd  good  and  God  are  all  things,  or  shall  be. 
Angel.      There  lacks    in  souls  like  thine  unsaved, 
unraised, 


FESTUS.  295 

The  light  within  —  the  light  of  perfectness  — 
Such  as  there  is  in  Heaven.     The  soul  hath  sunk 
And  perished  like  a  light-house  in  the  sea; 
It  is  for  God  to  raise  it  and  rebuild. 

Genius.     And  his,  thy  son's,  He  will  raise.     Since 
with  me, 
I  have  shown  him  infinite  wonders :  we  have  oped 
And  scanned  the  golden  scroll  of  Fate,  wherein 
Are  writ,  in  God's  own  hand,  all  things  which  happen. 
There  we  have  seen  the  record  of  his  being  — 
His  long  temptation,  sin,  and  suffering. 

Festus.     And  hear  it,  O  beloved  and  blessed  one  ! 
Mine  own  salvation! 

Angel.  God  is  great  in  love ; 

Infinite  in  His  nature,  power,  and  grace ; 
Creating,  and  redeeming,  and  destroying  — 
Infinite  infinitely.     But  in  love  — 
Oh !  it  is  the  truth  transcendent  over  all  — 
"When  thus  to  one  poor  spirit  He  gives  His  hand, 
He  seems  to  impart  His  own  unboundedness 
Of  bliss.     We  seem  to  be  hardly  worth  destroying, 
And  much  less  saving ;  yet  He  loveth  each 
As  though  all  were  His  equal. 

Festus.  I  know  all 

I  have  to  go  through  henceforth,  —  all  the  doubts. 
Passions  of  life,  and  woes  ;  but  knowing  them 
Hinders  them  not ;  I  bear  obeyingly ; 
And  pine  no  more,  as  once  when  I  looked  back 
And  saw  how  life  had  balked,  and  foiled,  and  fooled  me. 


290  FESTUS. 

Fresh  as  a  spouting  spring  upon  the  hills 

My  heart  leapt  out  to  life;  it  little  thought 

Of  all  the  vile  cares  that  would  rill  into  it, 

And  the  low  places  it  would  have  to  go  through, — 

The  di-ains,  the  crossings,  and  the  mill-work  after. 

God  hath  endowed  me  with  a  soul  that  scorns  life  — 

An  element  over  and  above  the  world's : 

But  the  price  one  pays  for  pride  is  mountain-high  ; 

There  is  a  curse  beyond  the  rack  of  death  — 

A  woe,  wherein  God  hath  put  out  his  strength  — 

A  pain  past  all  the  mad  wretchedness  we  feel. 

When  the  sacred  secret  hath  flown  out  of  us. 

And  the  heart  broken  open  by  deep  care, — 

The  curse  of  a  high  spirit  famishing. 

Because  all  earth  but  sickens  it. 

Angel.  Go,  child! 

Fulfil  thy  fate!     Be  —  do  —  bear  —  and  thank  God! 
To  me  it  seems  as  I  had  lived  all  ages 
Since  I  left  earth ;  and  thou  art  yet  scarce  man. 

Festus.     It  was  not,  mother,  that  I  knew  thy  face  ; 
The  luminous  eclipse  that  is  on  it  now, 
Though    it  was   fair   on  earth,  would   have    made    it 

strange 
Even  to  one  who  knew  as  well  as  he  loved  thee ; 
And  if  these  time-tired  eyes  ever  imaged  thine. 
It  was  but  for  a  moment,  and  the  sight 
Passed ;  and  my  life  was  broken  like  a  line 
At  the  first  word  — but  my  heart  cried  out  in  me. 

Angel.    I  knew  thee  well.    And  now  to  earth  again  I 


FESTUS.  297 

Go,  son!  and  say  to  all  who  once  were  mine  — 
I  love  them,  and  expect  them. 

Festus.  Blessed  one ! 

I  wiU. 

Angel.     I  charge  thee.  Genius,  bear  him  safely. 

Genius.     Through    light,    and   night,    and    all   the 
powers  of  air, 
I  have  a  passport. 

Angel.  God  be  with  thee,  child! 

Genius.     Come ! 

Festus.  I  feel  happier,  better,  nobler  now. 

See  where  she  sits,  and  smiles,  and  points  me  out 
To  those  who  sit  along  with  her.     Who  are 
The  two] 

Genius.     One  is  the  mother  of  mankind, 
And  one  the  mother  of  the  Man  who  saved 
Mankind;  and  she,  thine  own,  the  mother  of 
The  last  man  of  mankind  —  for  thou  art  he. 

Festus.     Am  I'?     It  is  enough:    I  have  seen  God. 

Genius.     God,  and  His  great  idea,  the  universe. 
Are  over  and  above  us.     Be  the  one 
Worshipped,  the  other  reverently  proved. 
Wilt  sojourn  for  a  time  among  the  worlds, 
iVnd  test  their  natures  ] 

Festus.  Gladly. 

Genius.  Seek  we,  then, 

All  rareness  and  variety  these  worlds 
Can  offer,  ere  we  reach  thine  orb.     Descend! 
XoW  is  the  age  of  worlds.     Another  comes. 

.S8 


2PS  FESTUS. 


Scene  —  A  Garden  and  Pleasure  House. 
Marian,  Helen,  Edward,  Charles,  Sophia,  and 

OTHERS. 

Edward.     Again  we  meet  in  this  fair  scene; 
Ah  !  might  we  be  but  ever  young ! 

Harry.      Helen !      We    pray   thee    be    again    our 
Queen. 

Helen.     I  prithee  hold  thy  tongue; 
A  royal  revolution  'twere  indeed. 
That  I  should  twice  reign,  and  myself  succeed. 

Charles.     No  nay  !     No  nay !  it  must  be  so : 
Permit  me. 

Helen.         Well,  there  needs  no  show 
Of  more  reluctance  than  I  feel ; 
Both  kings  and  queens  must  court  the  commonweal. 

Harry.     A  bumper  at  meeting !  a  bumper  at  part- 
ing ! 
As  many  you  like  be  between ; 

But  we  will  have  a  right  ruddy  brimmer  at  starting  — 
A  health  to  our  beautiful  Queen! 
Long,  long  may  she  reign  in  our  hearts  and  right  arms, 
And  her  all  but  omnipotence  last! 
She    shall    fear    nothing    rougher    than    love's    light 

alarms  — 
There  is  nought  in  the  coming  can  darken  her  charms  — 
rhere  is  nought  can  eclipse  in  the  past. 


FESTUS.  29f) 

A  brimmer  at  sitting,  a  brimmer  at  starting, 

As  many  you  like  be  between; 

But  we  will  have  a  right  ruddy  bumper  at  parting  — 

A  health  to  our  beautiful  Queen ! 

Oh  !  while  beauty  shall  live  in  the  form  of  the  fair, 

And  love  in  the  heart  of  the  brave. 

The  Queen  of  our  souls,  she  shall  never  despair. 

For  our  hearts  we  would   drain,    and  our    deaths  we 

would  dare. 
To  avenge  whom  we  love,  or  to  save. 

Helen.     Born  to  exert  the  powers  of  my  state, 
Charles,  I  have  named  thee  poet-laureate. 

Harry.     Kiss  hands  upon  appointment. 

Charles.  Sovereign  fair! 

Behold  thy  grateful  servant. 

Helen.  Sit  thou  there, 

In  all  but  full  equality  with  me; 
Love  rules  the  heart  and  the  mind  poesie ; 
In  youth  at  least,  and  when  in  hours  like  this 
The  rule  is  pleasure,  the  exception  bliss. 

Laurence.     But  where  is  Festus  ] 

Helen.  'Tis  to  him  we  owe 

The  repetition  of  this  scene  of  joy. 
He  bids  me  say  he  loves  ye  all  ye  know. 
But  deems  his  presence  less  attraction  than  anno}'. 
Whatever  ye  can  name,  and  I  command. 
Is  by  his  bidding  welcome  thus  to  all ; 
But  pardon  craves ;  high  quests  he  hath  in  hand 
Which  wait  not  on  his  own  nor  pleasure's  call. 


300  FESTUS. 

And  though  to  me  his  presence  be  a  power, 

His  every  word  with  love's  bright  magic  rife, 

Yet  he — nor  him  from  that  height  would  I  lower  — 

Lives  in  the  upper  hemisphere  of  life, 

Where  angel  thoughts  and  spiritual  orbs 

Roll  in  the  majesty  of  mind  profound ; 

Where  Truth's  bright  disk,  all  doubt-spots  dark  absorbs. 

And  Inspiration's  lightning  beams  abound. 

Whether  he  e'er  return  to  scenes  like  this 

I  know  not  —  much  I  question  —  but  can  trace 

The  tone,  methinks,  of  that  sad  soul  of  his 

Roll  ever-deepening  down  an  endless  bass. 

Like  an  abyss  of  thunder.     But,  away ! 

These  tears  mine  eyes  have  haunted  all  the  day; 

Now  they  are  vanished.     Let  us  change,  I  pray. 

The  matter  of  our  converse. 

Sophia.  Ay,  be  gay  ! 

Helen.     Come,  we  will  consecrate  the  passing  hour 
With  songs  of  love  and  lays  of  beauty's  power ;  — 
For  when  the  tale  of  Time  hath  told 
A  thousand  thousand  years. 
His  purple  pinions  starred  with  gold  — 
Wherewith  he  doth  the  world  infold  — 
Will  still  be  stained  with  dust  and  tears  ; 
And  still  life's  sole,  brief  Paradise,  in  sooth, 
Be  love  and  beauty  in  the  hour  of  youth. 
A  song,  a  dance,  one  cup  to  beauty's  name, 
Music,  a  jest,  or  pleasant  tale  in  rhyme, 
Sufficient  these,  with  mirth  and  gentle  game, 
Alternate  with  repose,  to  fill  our  time. 


FESTUS.  301 

And  first,  a  dance!  for  Earth  and  Heaven 
Are  both  to  choral  mfluence  given. 

Charles.     The   sun    in    the  centre   turns   solemnly 
round, 
And  the  pale  god  of   shades,  the  conductor  of  souls, 
Seems  to  warm  as  he  circles  the  glory  profound. 
Where  the  goddess  of  beauty  all  beamingly  rolls ; 
While  earth  and  her  sister  float  brilliantly  by. 
Her   heart    towards    the    sun,    and    her   love    in    her 

eye. 
Then  Mars,  like  a  warrior,  gloomy  and  red 
Impetuous  wheels,  ever  glancing  at  one ; 
While  six  sister  goddesses  mazily  tread 
The  bright  fields  of  air  which  encircle  the  sun ; 
And  Jove,  the  majestic,  serene  in  his  might. 
Sweeps  cloudy  and  thunderous  aye  to  the  light. 
Then  Saturn,  old  gray-bearded  emblem  of  time, 
Comes  slowly  and  chilly  to  join  with  the  rest. 
And  Ouranus  next  with  young  Eros  sublime. 
Move  slowly,  as  though  they  partook  with  the  blest ; 
And  each,  his  bright  be^^  of  servitors  round. 
Complete  the  vast  figure  with  harmony  crowned. 

Helen.     This,  then,  is  your  inaugural  ode. 

Charles.     If  you,  fair  lady,  think  it  so. 
Your  word  imposes  the  sole  code 
Of  law,  or  justice,  we  may  know. 

Helen.     Then  my  authority  is  absolute. 

Edward.     As  truth's  my  liege. 

Helen.  We'll  see  then  if  it  suit. 


302  FESTUS. 

So  like  the  stars  which  circie  through  the  skies, 
As  Charles  hath  sung, 
Ijet  us  too  dance  with  choral  harmonies, 
Ourselves  among. 

Marian,    apart      Again    that   name    hath   knelled 

upon  mine  ear, 
Though  I  have  never  voiced  it.     'Tis  to  me 
Too  deeply,  yea,  unutterably  dear. 
How  warmly,  too,  she  loves  him !     Let  it  be. 
Who  most  enjoy  the  light  may  best  endure. 
When  come,  the  darkness  as  it  now  is  here. 
Whatever  his,  may  my  troth  plight  keep  sure ! 
I  have  turned  to  thee,  moon,  from  the  glance 
That  in  triumphing  coldness  was  given  ; 
And  rejoiced,  as  I  viewed  thee  all  lonely  advance. 
There  was  something  was  lonely  in  Heaven. 
I  have  turned  to  thee,  moon,  as  I  lay 
In  thy  silent  and  saddening  brightness. 
And  rejoiced,  as  high  Heaven  went  shining  away, 
That  the  heart  had  its  desolate  lightness. 
I  have  turned  to  thee,  moon,  from  my  love. 
And  from  all  that  once  blessed  me  in  sadness ; 
And  can  marvel  no  more  that,  abandoned  above. 
Thou  shouldst  lend  thy  bright  face  to  make  madness 
I  have  turned  to  thee,  moon,  from  my  heart, 
That  in  love  hath  long  labored  and  sorrowed ; 
And   have   hoped    it    might    mix,  as  I  watched   thoe 

depart. 
Like  thyself,  with  the  mom  which  had  morrowed. 


FESTUS.  303 

Laurence.     Can  I  behold  the  lady  of  my  love 
Mourning  alone,  from  pleasure  all  apart"? 
Again  I  seek  thee,  though  it  be  to  hear 
The  sentence  of  destruction  to  my  heart. 
Yet  if  it  be  so,  still  one  moment  stay ; 
For  it  so  haps  whene'er  I  think  of  thee, 
So  blent  is  thought  with  love's  anxiety. 
My  spirit  doth  invariably  pray. 
Any  blessing  God  can  give 
Never  be  withheld  from  thee ; 
Nor  will  I  desire  to  live 
If  that  prayer  be  lost  to  me; 
Else  I  were  unworthy  thee. 
Read  these  eyes,  love,  and  believe 
Ever  I  am  only  thine ; 
End  of  all  my  hopes,  receive. 
Dearest,  heart  and  all  that's  mine ! 

Marian.     I  thank  thee,  Laurence,  and  believe, 
But  this  is  all  I  can  for  thee, 
Save  grieve  that  thou  shouldst  vainly  grieve 
I  to  another  am  as  thou  to  me 
In  this  strange  passion  which  pain  sanctifies; 
This  folly,  sorrow  makes  sublime  and  wise. 

Laurence.      Oh!    there   is   nothing,  in   this  world 
of  ours. 
So  sad  to  see 

As  the  dark  worm  which  dwells  wherever  flowers 
Our  destiny; 

Eating  the  heart  out  of  youth's  budding  hours 
Of  jrlee. 


304  FESTUS. 

Not  oft  in  sunny  beds,  nor  sheltered  bowers, 

Life's  lot  is  cast, 

But  chiefly  lost  in  shade,  and  chilled  by  showers, 

Or  the  rude  blast ; 

Till  all  its  delicate  and  wholesome  powers 

Are  past. 

And  this,  then,  is  the  end  of  all  the  bliss 

Which  love  and  beauty  offered,  and  my  soul 

Made  certain  of  in  natural  triumph  ;  this 

The  heritage  of  life,  and  this  love's  goal. 

Marian.      Peace!    there  is  one  I   name   not,  came 
not  here 
Partly  because  of  me.     But  think' st  thou  I 
Came  to  indulge  a  wretched  vanity 
With  thee,  or  pry  into  another's  sphere  1 
With  whom  I  grieve  too;  which  is  more  unblest. 
Whose  love  is  shunned  or  sought,  let  time  attest  1 

Helen.     x\nd    now,  for   pastime,  some    one   tell    a 
tale; 
Come,  an  adventure,  Charles. 

Charles.  Oh,  pray  dispense 

With  my  devoirs  this  time.     I  fain  would  try. 
If  any  wit  be  in  the  company ; 
By  observation,  not  experience. 
Of  course  I  judge :  for  of  my  own 
The  world  and  I  are  cognizant  alone. 

Emma.     Fatigued,  no  doubt,  with  over-admiration 
Of  your  sweet  self 

Helen.  Well,  each  one  in  rotation. 


FESTUS.  305 

Walter.     Now  I  know  a  delicious  tale 
Will  suit  you,  Carrie,  to  a  T. 

Caroline.     Do  tell  me,  then,  and  I'll  believe 
It  more  than  truth,  if  need  should  be. 

Walter.     Well ;  Love  is  the  child  of  bliss  and  woe ; 
So,  from  his  parents  dear. 
One  eye  is  blinded  with  a  smile. 
One  drowned  in  a  tear. 
And  on  one  lip  there  drops  a  kiss. 
Like  honey  from  the  wild  woodbine  ; 
And  that's  the  lip  he  had  from  bliss  — 
And  that's  the  lip  I  will  have  mine: 
But  on  tiie  other  hangs  a  lie, 
And  that  —  but  that's  'tween  you  and  I. 
Caroline.     How  very  odd  ! 
Walter.  Why,  it's  a  fact, 

And  therefore  needs  no  illustration ; 
But  if  you  think  its  principle  abstract, 
It  is  easily  shown  in  operation. 

Caroline.     Oh  dear  !   no,  no  !     Ill  vow  it's  true. 
Rather  than  have  it  proved  by  you. 

George.     Well,  then,  hear  me.     Now  this  is  true, 
Although  of  love  and  the  lyre  too ; 
And,  as  it  happened  all  to  me, 
I  say  but  what  I  could  but  see. 
I  was  with  the  maid  I  love. 
We  were  happy  and  alone ; 
Eve's  star  just  lit  the  grove, 
And  the  day  had  been  our  own ; 

39  z* 


306  FESTUS. 

And  my  lyre  lay  by  my  side, 

But  no  music  from  it  came ; 

For  as  sure  as  e'er  I  tried, 

It  was  harsh  or  it  was  tame; 

So  I  flung  it  to  my  feet, 

And  I  feigned  the  while  I  said. 

Thy  love  I  cannot  meet ; 

Thou  must  not  love  me,  maid. 

And  more  I  might  have  feigned, 

When  there  came  a  little  boy. 

And  his  step  fell  as  light 

As  a  laugh  of  joy ; 

And  he  laughed,  and  said,  I'm  Lov^* 

Shall  I  teach  you  how  to  play  1 

And  I  said,  My  pretty  boy, 

Teach  away !  teach  away ! 

So  he  lifted  up  the  lyre. 

And  he  fingered  its  strings. 

Till  I  thought  they  did  become 

Like  spiritual  things  ; 

And  the  gold  chords  shone. 

From  the  music  he  clouded. 

Like  the  links  of  the  lightning, 

When  tempests  come  crowded ; 

And  the  strain  rose  and  fell, 

'Neath  his  pink  little  fingers, 

Like  a  soul  due  to  earth, 

That  in  Heaven  still  lingers. 


FESTUS.  »S()7 

He  ceased;  and  all  over 

He  smiled  like  the  strain 

Of  the  music  he  made  me, 

Nor  made  me  in  vain; 

For  I  snatched  at  the  lyre 

While  yet  it  was  ringing, 

And  I  sang,  It  is  love 

Gives  the  poet  his  singing. 

Then  I  turned  to  my  beauty, 

Who  kissed  her  young  bard. 

As  she  said.  Love  and  song 

Shall  have  thus  their  reward.  • 

He  laughed  till  he  cried; 

I  pretended  to  frown ; 

So  my  love  made  him  hide 

In  her  bosom  of  down  ; 

Where  at  last  he  gasped  out, 

Oh,  forgive  me,  I  pray! 

But  I  couldn't  help  laughing  — 

Boy,  I  said,  get  away ! 

Let  none,  then,  who  love  not, 

Ever  offer  to  sing; 

Let  none  who  say  false 

Ever  strike  the  gold  string  — 

He  said;  and  I  saw  but  the 

Wave  of  his  wing. 

Lucy.     These  stories  are  delightful ;  I  declare 
I  never  dreamed  that  Love  was  to  be  seen, 
More  than  a  ghost  in  these  enlightened  days. 


j;08  FESTUS. 

Laurence.     Thrice  wretched  he  to  whom  he  comes, 

I  ween. 
Charles.     I  had  a  strange  visit  once  from  Love; 
But  when,  indeed,  I  dread  to  date  it. 
It  is  so  long  since  I  half  forget, 
But  if  it  please  you  I'll  narrate  it. 

Laura.     Oh,  do  !  a  poet  surely  will  have  something 
Pretty  to  say  about  the  poor,  dear,  dumb  thing. 
Harry.     Dumb !   then  you  know  but  little  of  the 
tyrant; 
He'd  bellow  down  a  fifth -rate  actor  by  rant. 

Charles.     It  is  true  I  have  met  him  once  or  twice 
Since  the  event  of  which  I  tell; 
He  called,  I  find,  the  other  day, 
And  left  his  card ;  but  T.  T.  L. 
So,  if  we  meet  again,  the  little  god 
Will  get  the  cut  celestial,  or  a  nod 
At  best.     But,  as  I  fear  I  am  wasting  time, 
For  shortness'  sake  I'll  tell  my  tale  in  rhyme. 
I  nursed  with  care  a  favorite  fire 

In  secret  and  alone; 
And  oft  I  blew  it  with  my  breath, 

And  oft  'twas  all  but  gone. 
And  not  a  soul  beside  myself 
Cared  for  my  flame  or  me; 
It  made  me  sad,  it  made  me  glad, 
\  llie  very  secrecy. 

At  length  my  absence  made  me  missed ; 
They  sought  me  far  and  near. 


FESTUS.  309 

With  muttered  scorn,  with  smile,  with  sigh, 

With  silence,  and  a  tear ; 
And  one  said,  Let  the  boy  alone, 

His  flame  will  soon  expire ; 
And  others  said,  'Tis  nought  to  us ; 

And  still  I  fed  my  fire. 
And  friends  and  kindred  all  condemned, 

With  stern  and  fixed  eye. 
The  love  of  folly,  which,  they  said, 

Possessed  me ;  —  spake  not  I. 
So  one  by  one  they  went  away, 

'Twere  useless  to  remain; 
Their  presence  or  their  absence  nought  — 

I  fanned  my  fire  again. 
And  Beauty  came,  but  blamed  me  not; 

So  sweetly  did  she  ask 
Of  life  and  peace,  I  half  forgot 

To  tend  my  wayward  task; 
Till,  while  her  eyes  were  lift  above, 

I  spied  it  as  I  turned  ; 
Sprang  like  a  bowstring  to  the  bow, 

And  stirred  it  till  it  burned. 
And  Pride  and  World-Ambition  came. 

And  tried  to  tread  it  out; 
But  every  ember  found  its  nerve, 

And  each  with  pain  did  shout ; 
And  Love  came,  not  as  he  was  wont. 

With  kiss  and  merry  brow. 
And  eyes  like  two  forget-me-nots, 

Dipped  in  the  stream  below :  — 


310  FESTUS. 

But  up  he  came  with  torrent  tears, 

And  pale  and  reckless  look, 
And  eye  as  cold  as  any  stone 

In  petrifying  brook; 
He  broke  his  bow;  his  shafts  he  snapped, 

And  swore  he  would  expire ;  — 
I  took  his  bow  and  arrows  both, 

And  burnt  them  in  my  fire. 
And  all  that  all  or  aught  could  do 

Was  useless  to  its  end ; 
The  flame,  though  fitful,  flourished  still. 

In  spite  of  foe  or  friend. 
It  warms  me  now ;    I  feel  it  must 

Respond  to  my  desire ; 
For  I  have  heaped  both  heart  and  soul 
Upon  that  deathless  fire. 
Lucy.     Poor  thing!    I  think  you  served  him  very 
iU; 
But  it  accounts  for  our  distressed  condition ; 
For,  without  arms,  nor  wound  can  he  nor  kill; 
I'm  half  afraid  he'll  die  of  inanition. 

Will.     With  poets  every  thing  must  deathless  be ; 
Now  it's  the  passingness  of  things  that  gives 
Their  most  exciting  charm  to  me; 
Life  hath  less  beauty  if  it  ever  lives. 
All  loveliest  things  pass  soonest;   clouds  and  flowers, 
Rainbows,  heart-kindling  glances,  the  sweet  smile; 
Because  brief,  we  admire,  or  make  them  ours ; 
But  we  should  slight  them  lived  they  longer  while. 


FESTUS.  311 

Charles.     It  is  sweet  to  be  awakened  by  a  kiss, 
When  dreaming  of  the  very  lips  which  waken ;  — 
Ahl  never  be  that  visionary  bliss, 
But  for  the  bright  reality,  forsaken. 
It  is  sweet  to  dream  we  are  blest  at  last  with  her 
Who  first  made  pleasure  in  our  nature  stir: 
Though  fairer,  kinder,  since  we  may  have  known, 
That  first  voluptuous  vision  sits  her  throne ; 
Still,  in  our  sleep,  plays  o'er  young  passion's  part. 
As  pleasure's  ghost  still  haunts  the  ruined  heart 
Where  lie  the  buried  loves  of  younger  years. 
Whose  rites  and  requiems  are  sighs  and  tears. 
Sleep  on,  ye  living  dead,  in  day!  nor  rise. 
But  in  night's  shadowy  shapes  and  dreamy  eyes ; 
Then  let  me  graft  me  in  your  breasts  again. 
And  stanch  my  bosom  of  its  tearing  pain. 
Oh  !  fade  not  —  stir  not  —  hold  me  till  I  die, 
In  the  desire  of  what  I  most  possess; 
For  I  would  die,  as  I  have  lived,  in  love ; 
To  dream  of  happiness,  is  happiness: 
And  be  it  but  a  dream;  these  very  dreams 
Are  elements  of  immortality ; 
As  mind  on  earth  almightily  beseems. 
And  body  but  an  impotent  reality. 
But  dearer  than  the  kiss,  and  than  the  dream, 
Than  busy  bliss,  or  than  remembered  love, 
,  It  is  to  feel  we  shall  be  deathless  here,  — 
That  earth  will  speak  of  us  when  gone  above. 


312  FESTUS. 

George.      It  is  sweet  to  taste  the  clear,  close  kiss 
of  meeting, 
And  sweet  to  lengthen  still  the  long  embrace ; 
It  is  sweet  to  see  the  man  we  back  is  beating  — 
Sweet  to  be  startled  by  a  pretty  face. 
It  is  sweet  to  hear,  if  fat,  that  we  grow  thinner ; 
Sweet  the  first  drop  of  claret  after  dinner  ; 
But  sweeter  still  than  all  that's  sweet  before 
Is  to  hear  some  say,  I  will  say  no  more  ; 
A  blessing  I  can  scarce  expect  to  be 
From  those  who  are  more  near  than  dear  to  me  ; 
You,  Charles,  for  instance. 

Charles.  Why,  you  greedy  elf, 

Would  you  have  all  the  nonsense  to  yourself? 

Helen.     Now  let  us   have  no  argument,  I  pray. 

Frank.     Suppose  we  have  a  pretty,  lively  song. 

Emma.     Suppose  you  sing  it,  then. 

Frank.  Well,  never  say 

I  don't  intend  to  help  you,  right  or  wrong. 
Will  no  one  else]     Then  111  essay 
A  song  I  learned  but  yesterday. 

Oh!  gaze  on  her  beautiful,  soft  rolling  eye. 
And  revel  with  bliss  in  its  languishing  love; 
Oh!  look  on  its  brightness  and  darkness,  and  sigh 
That  truth  from  that  Heaven  should  ever  remove. 
Oh !  gaze  on  her  ringlets  of  raven-black  hair. 
And  her  delicate  eyebrows'  soft  pencilly  line ; 


FESTUS.  313 

Oh!  wish  that  her  bosom  were  pure  as  it's  fair, 
That  the  saint  were  as  worthy  of  love  as  the  shrine. 

I  have    gazed  —  I   have  loved  —  I  have   worshipped  ; 

and  fain 
I  now  would  declare  it  —  my  madness  is  past ; 
But  pleasure  no  more  in  my  heart  will  remain, 
Than  the  sparkle  of  spray  on  the  sand  beach  cast. 
I  loathe  her,  and  love  her  —  I  never  can  rail  — 
It  is  past,  and  I  reck  not  —  my  fortune  I  dare; 
Henceforward  the  shroud  of  my  hopes  is  my  sail, 
And  the  peace  which  I  sought  I  have  found  in  despair. 

Caroline.      If  that's   called    lively,  or  in   part,  or 
wholly, 
The  gods  preserve  me  from  your  melancholy. 

Harry.     'Tis  no  use  saying  that  I  love  you,  Sophy, 
For  if  I  do,  you  only  cry  out.  Oh,  ^e  ! 
Nathless,  as  some  one  else  must  sing. 
Wait  only  till  I  screw  this  string. 

I  love  not  horse, 

I  love  not  wine ; 

Nor  song  nor  dance 

Be  joys  of  mine. 

And  dull  to  me 

Are  the  skies  above ; 

I  love  not  lore, 

I  love  not  love. 

40  AX 


314  FESTUS. 

But  thee  I  now 
Love,  and  e'er  will: 
For  love's  the  best 
Point  in  me  still. 
And  since  my  heart 
Owns  nought  above  thee, 
It  must  be  Phil- 
osophy to  love  thee. 
Laura.     Hast  thou  got  any  thing  there  for  me  ? 

For  surely  thou  never  shouldst  bring  me  near  thee, 

Unless  thou  hast  some  gift  with  thee 

To  bribe  me  to  hear  thee. 

Edward.     I  bring  thee  neither  bribe  noi  boon ; 

I  offer  only  flowers. 

Which,  gathered  thus,  devise  the  hope, 

Each  other's  hearts  are  ours. 

But  mind,  I  see  one  poison  bloom 

Thrust  like  a  motto  from  the  tomb. 

Amid  some  merry  song; 

As  every  being  hath  its  bane. 

As  the  brightest  clouds  are  thick  with  rain, 

And  the  day  hath   night-shade  long; 

But  if  one  gem  of  joy  there  be. 

Too  many  for  the  day's  bright  wreath, 

Then  may  the  night-shade  give  it  thee, 

Though  it  be  joy  to  death ; 

For  I  would  neither  love  nor  die 

Beneath  a  broad  and  laughing  sky: 


FESTUS.  315 

No ;  heart  and  spirit,  take  your  flight, 

Aye,  in  the  still  and  starry  night; 

Receive  them,  lady,  in  that  breast. 

With  peace  and  purity  to  rest ; 

And,  Oh!  if  not  too  much  for  prayer, 

My  life,  my  love,  my  all  be  there. 

Ah,  happy  flowerets !  if  the  while 

Ye  ope  beneath  her  summer  smile. 

But  to  pluck  the  poison  from  the  rest. 

Beauty  of  night,  come  deck  my  breast. 

Beauty  of  night,  thou  art  blithe  and  bright. 

While  all  thy  sister  blooms  are  sleeping; 

And  though  thou  canst  but  bloom  to  blight, 

Wilt  wake  and  laugh  in  dewy  light. 

While  they  are  dreaming,  they  are  weeping. 

Beauty  of  night,  I  will,  will  win  thee ; 

Flower  of  life,  my  life  is  in  thee. 

Beauty  of  night,  I  knew  that  light 

Had  shade,  and  knew  that  night  had  deeper; 

But  they  but  bring  to  weary  wight 

The  sleep  which  love  alone  will  slight. 

And  thou  who  wring  st   life  from  the  sleeper. 

Beauty  of  night,  I  have,  have  won  thee ; 

Flower  of  death,  my  death  be  on  me. 

Laura.     Thou  may'st  be  happy  if  thou  wilt, 
Nor  envy  these  poor  flowers  their  spot; 
For  close  as  in  a  clenched  hand, 
Thy  love  within  my  heart  hath  lot. 


316  FESTUS. 

Fanny.     Who   mentioned   ghosts?     In    nothing   I 
so  glory- 
As  a  true,  thrilling,  chilling,  good  ghost  story. 

Edward.     But  on  a  soft  and  fragrant  summer  eve, 
With  glistening  flowers  and  flashing  waters  by, 
One  lacks  the  proper  impulse  to  believe:  — 
But  then  I  don't  believe  them. 

Will.  Oh!  nor  I. 

Lucy.     They  want  a  fireside  and  a  howling  storm ; 
Summer  time  seems  too  sensual  and  warm. 

Frederic.     Oh!  you  are  a  parlous  little  infidel. 
Or  I  could  tell  a  tale;   but  I'm  not  well. 
My  head  seems  wrong,  and  somehow  altogether 
Feels  like  a  bullet  on  a  peacock's  feather. 

Walter.     Do  you  believe  that  spirits  interfere 
With  men,  events,  or  actions  any  where/? 

Charles.     Let  gold-bagged  priests  from  Ganges  to 
Bermudas 
The  gospel  preach,  according  to  St.  Judas;  — 
It's  my  opinion,  if  the  truth  were  known. 
That  earth  pertains  to  man  and  beast  alone; 
And   neither   saint,  nor   fiend,  nor    bright,  nor    dark 

angel. 
Between  the  South  Pole  and  the  port  of  Archangel, 
Have  any  call,  or  leave,  or  will,  or  power 
To  meddle  with  a  mortal,  for  an  hour. 

Fanny.     Oh!  you're  an  unbeliever. 

Charles.  That  is  true. 

So  far  as  this  —  I  don't  believe  in  you. 


FESTUS.  317 

Helen.     Sir,  you  are  rude.     Now,  Frederic,  we  wait 
The  story  that  you  spoke  of.     Tell  it  straight. 

Frederic.     Please  you,  my  liege,  111  try  then  and 

remember ; 
And  for  the  rest  —  why,  fancy  it's  December. 
'Twas  midnight,  and  a  noble  sat  in  his  ancestral  hall. 
Where  many  a  stern,  old  portrait  gloomed  along  the 

gilded  wall ; 
And  ivory,  marble,  ebony,  and  tapestries  adorned 
The    seats   he   used,  the    floors  he    trod ;    for   meaner 

things  he  scorned. 
And    youth,    and    fame,    and    might    were    his  —  the 

splendid  might  of  mind ; 
His    spirit    swept   and   bowed    all   hearts,  as  bending 

forests  wind; 
Yet    youth    and    genius  oft,    too  oft,  in  worship  bow 

the   knee 
At    pleasure's    shrine,    in   folly's    fane ;    more    madly 

none  than  he. 
He  sat,  but  not  in  solitude :  a  damsel  by  his  side, 
Of  beauty,  bright  and  gay  of  heart,  him  with  the  wine- 
cup  plied, 
Gazing  on  him  with  eye  as  though  to  him  her  soul 

were  due : 
Oh,  nought  'neath    Heaven   itself  might    match   that 

eye's  dark,  sunny  blue ! 
From  which,  too,  ever  and  anon  smiles  o'er  her  face 

would  fly, 
Like    the    electric    flames    which    flit    o'er    summer's 

evening  sky ; 


318  FESTUS. 

And  pearls  were  beaded  o'er  her  brow,  and  gems  lit 

up  her  breast, 
Like  dew-drops  on  the  morning  rose  when  wakening 

from  rest. 
"  One  parting  goblet,"  cried  the  youth,   "  ere  I  away 

to-night : 
Bring    me   the  old   monk's  skull-cup,  girl ;    peace  to 

his  jovial  sprite ! " 
She  by  the  lofty  window  went,  —  where  in  the  moon's 

pale  sheen 
The    gray    old   cloisters    arch    about    their    fountain- 
centred  green  ; 
The  statued  satyrs  seemed  to  grin  and  jibber  'neath 

her  eye. 
And  as  she  looked,  a  death-like  cloud  came  creeping 

up  the  sky, 
And  in  one  long  and  trembling  moan  the  night-gust 

strove  to  die;  — 
Up  to  the  ebon  cabinet,  with  flowery  pearl  inlaid. 
And    seized    the    goblet-skull,    and    laughed,  —  how 

laughed  that  merry  maid ! 
He  poured  it  full  with   bubbling  wine,  impatient   to 

be  quaffed, 
Full   to   the   silver-written    rim,  and    drained  it  at  a 

draught ; 
•*  Ah,  would  its  owner  were  but  here ! "  and  gayly  both 

they  laughed. 
"Again,"    he  cried,  — "but  what  is  that  stirs  in  the 

far-off  gloom  1 " 


FESTUS.  319 

The  lady  looked  and  shrieked,  and  rushed  out  of  that 
royal  room. 

Enveloped  in  a  sable  cowl,  and  stole  of  sightless  hue, 

A  ghostly  figure  glided  swift   that  noble  youth  unto. 

Why  drops  the  goblet  from  his  grasp  ]     Why  trembles 
he  with  dread  ? 

The  grave  hath  given  birth  ;  —  he  sees  a  spirit  of  the 
dead. 

Another  moment,  unappalled,  erectly  still  he  stands ; 

He  would   not  quail  to  man  nor  fiend,  for   half  his 
goodly  lands, 

Yet,  like  a  tree  by  sudden   gust,  his  soul  was  seized 
with  fear 

An  instant  —  and  his  spirit  shook  as  drew  the  spectre 
near ; 

His  small,  white  hand,  veined  like  a  leaf,  close  to  his 
bosom  clung. 

And  every  nerve  and  sinew  grew  like  to  a  bowstring 
strung, 

As  with  a  shadow's  voice  it  said  — 

"I  am  the  Monk  of  old, 

A  fragment  of  whose  mortal  frame  I  at  thy  feet  be- 
hold. 

For  that  I  plead  not,  reck  not  now ;  a  thing  of  nobler 
fate 

Hast  thou  perverted  and  defiled  than  aught  of  human 
state. 

Than  bone  or  body ;  sin,  in  truth,  the  soul  doth  des- 
ecrate." 


320  FES  T  u  s . 

"Nay,  holy  father!"  said  the  youth,  "if  thou  hast 
left  old  Death 

To  preach  to  me,  at  dead  of  night,  waste  not  thy 
pious  breath ! 

Pledge  me  in  this  !  the  night  is  cold,  yet  colder  is 
the  grave. 

And  wine  will  warm  thee  !  shrink  not  back !  immor- 
tals should  be  brave! 

Ah !  know'st  the  cup  1  Well,  heed  it  not !  right 
welcome  shalt  thou  be 

To  drain  it  with  me  every  night,  and — benedicite.'' 

With  that,  he  raised  the  cup  to  fill  and  quaff  it  as 
before. 

Till  fast  as  poured,  the  wine  became  but  dust  in- 
crusted  gore ; 

He  cast  it  on  the  fire,  —  the  lake  could  not  have 
quenched  it  more. 

Again  the  spectre  spake,  and  still  in  cold  and  tomb- 
like tone, — 

"  Drink  thou  with  whom  thou  wilt ;  with  girls,  with 
gallants,  or  alone ; 

I  come  to  warn  thee  of  thy  fate  —  a  fate  to  me  made 
known." 

The  old  monk  raised  his  cowl ;  nor  face,  nor  feature 
was  there  there ; 

Nay,  nothing  but  two  eyes,  which  burnt  like  stars 
distinct  in  air. 

"  Thou  in  a  foreign  clime  shalt  die,  and  thy  poor, 
fleshly  frame 


FESTUS.  321 

Be  borne  across  the  seas  to  rest  by  theirs  from  whom 

it  came. 
Thy   heart    alone    shall    be    inurned    upon   the   spot 

where  thou 
Wilt  pay  the  forfeit  of  thy  life,  where  Death  looks  for 

thee  now. 
Embalmed,  enshrined  thy  heart  shall   be  in  gemmed 

and   costly  case, 
And  as  a  thing  of  worship  set  before  a  nation's  face ; 
Till,  in  the  lapse  of  coming   years,  some  sacrilegious 

thief 
Shall  filch    that    relic  —  set   at   nought   that  weeping 

people's  grief. 
The  sacred  dust  which  dwelt  within,  the  dust  which 

now  swells  high 
Within    thy   bosom,   he    shall    strew   abroad    relent- 
lessly. 
And    this    in    retribution,  youth,  for  that   thou   there 

hast  done." 
The  voice,  the  vision  ceased ;  and,  lo  !  that  instant  it 

was  gone. 
Again   the    night-wind    sweeps   along   those   old   and 

ivied  halls  ; 
Again  o'er  lake  and  fountain  free  the  witching  moon- 
light falls, 
Checkering   through  the  panes  the  dim  old  paintings 

round  the  walls. 
But   there  was  one  who  never  went   into   that   room 

again ; 

41 


322  FESTUS. 

And    prayers,  and    tears,    and   jeers  were    each   alike 

essayed  in  vain. 
Thai  dark,  unearthly  visitor  was  ever  in  her  mind, 
Like  to  the  awe  which  filleth  fanes  where  gods  have 

once  been  shrined. 
And  morning  met  the   youth  all  pale,  and  pacing  to 

and  fro ;  — 
But,  ah!    the  goblet-skull  he  touched  never  again,  I 
trow. 

Lucy.     There ;  does  not  that  convert  you  1 

Charles.  Not  a  whit, 

I  don't  believe  a  single  word  of  it ; 
Nor  yet  of  summer  fairies,  winter  ghosts. 
Nor  any  other  spiritual  hosts. 

Sophia.     See,  then,  how  inconsistent  you  must  be 
In  the  sad  tale  you  told  us  about  Love. 

Charles.     The  credit  of  my  creed  concerns  but  me, 
Either  in  Earth  below  or  Heaven  above. 

Helen.     Men!  I  give  notice  I  am  sitting  here 
To  answer  and  console  the  sad  in  heart. 
Who  is  in  love? 

Charles.  I  am,  sweet  judge;  I  fear 

And  hope,  unbiased,  you  will  take  my  part. 

Helen.     What  do  you  wish? 

Charles.  Fair  justice,  if  it  please  — 

Helen.      To     mock    our    ears    with     your     mock 
miseries  ]  — 
Sit;  we'll  not  hear  them.     You  shall  truly  tell 
That  love  does  oftener  than  he  says,  farewoll. 


FESTUS.  323 

Charles.     With  truth  I  cannot;  but  I'll  state  my 
case. 

Helen.     May  it  bear  out  your  miserable  face ! 

Charles.     I  have  lived  on  ladies'  eyes, 
Dined  on  kisses,  supped  on  sighs  ; 
I  have  warmed  me  by  their  smiles, 
I  have  been  wet  through  with  tears ; 
They've  half  slain  me  with  their  wiles  — 
Charming,  cheating,  pretty  dears ; 
They  have  scratched  me  in  their  play, 
Sighed  and  sucked  the  wound  away; 
They  have  squeezed  me  black  and  blue, 
Roughed  my  hair  and  boxed  my  ears, 
Laughed,  and  looked  me  through  and  through : 
Oh,  the  cruel,  angel  dears  ! 

Fanny.     Indeed,  you  have  been  sadly  treated. 

Charles.     Ah  me !  how  I  have  been  jilted,  cheated  ; 
It  would  move  the  passion  of  a  stone ; 
And  yet  when  not  with  ladies,  I'm  alone. 
I  like  the  company  of  women  most. 
And  after  theirs,  my  own : 
Among  men  I  feel  always  lost. 
Ladies'  society  for  me,  or  none. 

Helen.     Peace  !  say  no  more.    We  all  agree  in  part. 
This  court  thinks  fit  to  confiscate  your  heart ; 
And,  till  the  fine  be  paid,  to  one  at  least  — 
Some  lady  here  —  you  cannot  be  released. 
Begone!  thank  us  that  you  escape  so  Avell, 
From  what,  it  is  impossible  to  tell. 


324  FESTUS. 

Charles.     Oh !  I  appeal  against  my  fate. 

Helen.     Just  as  a  cur  a  coach  may  bait. 
It  nought  avails. 

Charles.  But  what  am  I  to  dol 

The  puzzling  power  of  a  pair  of  eyes  ! 
One  pair  is  black,  one  gray,  and  one  is  blue: 
I  am  a  sacrifice ! 

They  are  three  —  the  sweet  sisters  I  love  in  my  heart, 
And  all  so  unlike  and  so  fair: 
When  with  all,  I  am  longing  to  love  them  apart, 
And  apart,  T  would  all  of  them  there. 
By  the  world,  I  dare  say,  I  shall  greedy  be  reckoned. 
But  my  wish  I  can  name  in  a  word: 
I  would   live  with    the   first,    I   would  die  with    the 

second. 
And  immortal  I'd  be  with  the  third. 

Helen.     Go !  we  have  pardoned  you  with  like  con- 
trition 
As  we  condemned  —  without  condition; 
This  point  excepted,  that  you  sing  a  song 
In  token  your  deliverance  is  wrong. 
Though  just  my  judgment.     Pray  don't  keep  us  long. 
Or  banishment,  perhaps,  may  be  your  lot. 

Charles.     Oh!  I  protest  against  it. 

Others.  Despot  fair! 

Your  sentence  is  too  cruel. 

Helen.  Hold,  slaves!  what? 

Dispute!  I  fine  you  each.     So  now,  despair, 
llius  I  adopt  first  the  most  stringent  measure. 


FESTUS.  325 

Our  taxes  are  your  songs,  your  fines  our  pleasure: 
These  ladies  will  assist  you  now  and  then. 

Laura.     Oh,  certainly. 

Emma.  Behave  yourselves  like  men. 

Charles.     There's  no  escaping,  it  appears  to  me, 
However  nod  and  wink,  &c.,  be. 

Brandy  may  do  for  the  old. 

And  water  for  all  who  choose  it ; 

And  brandy  and  water,  hot  or  cold, 

There  are  few  who  will  dare  to  refuse  it. 

But  as  for  myself,  I  still  must  think. 

How  wrong  soever  I  be, 

There  is  nothing  like  wine  for  a  poet's  drink ; 

Wine  —  wine  is  the  drink  for  me! 

Cider  may  suit  an  old  maid, 

And  a  young  one,  soda  water ; 

Grog,  toddy,  and  negus,  and  lemonade, 

The  curious  in  self-slaughter. 

But  as  for  myself,  I  still  must  think, 

How  wrong  soever  I  be, 

There  is  nothing  like  wine  for  a  poet's  drink ; 

Wine — wine  is  the  drink  for  me! 

Ale  may  go  down  with  the  clown, 
And  beer  with  the  sad  and  seedy; 
And  porter  and  stout,  entire  and  brown, 
With  the  dead,  or  the  mad,  or  the  need  v. 


326  FESTUS. 

But  as  for  myself,  I  still  must  think, 
How  wrong  soever  I  be, 

There  is  nothing  like  wine  for  a  poet's  drink ! 
Wine  —  wine  is  the  drink  for  me! 

Helen.     A  broad  hint,  truly.     Pay  the  bard  his  fee, 
I  dare  say  he  is  thirsty. 

Frank  and  others.        So  are  we ! 

Charles.     What,  ho  !  a  butt  of  sack  ! 

Helen.  But  no  butt  here! 

Or  sack  you'll  get  another  way,  I  fear. 
Remember  that,  within  our  sacred  sight. 
You  should  continue  abstinent  to-night. 
Indeed,  I  don't  approve  that  sort  of  song. 
And  think  it  very  rude,  and  rather  wrong. 
To  make  my  subjects  good,  is  my  main  plan; 
Let  them  be  merry  with  it  if  they  can  : 
Mind,  as  it  is,  I  am  resolved  almost 
To  make  you  forfeit  your  important  post. 

Charles.     Lady,  I  swear  I  never  to  offend  meant : 
Our  next  shall  move  you  all  as  an  amendment. 

Helen.     Now  seriatim^  gentles,  if  you  please. 
We  are  quite  resolved  to  list  your  melodies. 

Lucy.     Come,  no  more  flinching. 

Frank,  Walter,  and  others,  apart      Let  us  sing 
a  glee, 
And  so,  by  singing  all  at  once,  evade 
The  separate  penalty. 

Edward.  Dost  think  thnt  she, 

The  tyrant  of  this  fair  festivity, 


FESTUS.  327 

Will  bear  to  have  her  words  so  far  bewrayed] 
No  more  than  ice  bear  blood-heat  in  the  shade. 

Walter.     We  can  but  try. 

Charles.  Remember  what  I  told  you, 

And  think  upon  the  bright  eyes  that  behold  you. 

The  crow  !  the  crow !  the  great  black  crow ! 
He  cares  not  to  meet  us  wherever  we  go; 
He  cares  not  for  man,  beast,  friend,  nor  foe. 
For  nothing  will  eat  him,  he  well  doth  know. 

Know !  know  !  you  great  black  crow  V 
It's  a  comfort  to  feel  like  a  great  black  crow! 

The  crow !  the  crow  !  the  great  black  crow ! 
He  loves  the  fat  meadow  —  his  taste  is  low ; 
He  loves  the  fat  worms,  and  he  dines  in  a  row 
With  fifty  fine  cousins,  all  black  as  a  sloe. 

Sloe  !  sloe !  you  great  black  crow ! 
But  it's  jolly  to  fare  like  a  great  black  crow. 

The  crow!  the  crow!  the  great  black  crow! 
He  never  gets  drunk  on  the  rain  nor  snow ; 
He  never  gets  drunk,  but  he  never  says.  No ! 
If  you  press  him  to  tipple  ever  so. 
So !  so !  you  great  black  crow ! 
It's  an  honor  to  soak  like  a  great  black  crow. 

The  crow !  the  crow !  the  great  black  crow ! 
He  lives  for  a  hundred  years  and  mo' ; 


328  FESTUS. 

He  lives  till  he  dies,  and  he  dies  as  slow 
As  the  morning  mists  down  the  hill  that  go. 

Go !  go !  you  great  black  crow ! 
But  it's  fine  to  live  and  die  like  a  great  black  crow, 

Helen.     Your  principles  are  purer,  I  perceive.    You 
Are  much  the  same  in  practice. 

Frank.  .  I  believe  you. 

A  heart  full  of  feeling,  a  cup  full  of  wine,  — 
Come — sip,  love;  come — sip,  love; 
There's  nothing  I  lack  but  that  sweet  lip  of  thine, — 
Thy  lip,  love  —  thy  lip,  love. 
Thine  eyes  are  like  two  romping  stars. 
That  look  as  they  had  drank  of  wine ; 
And,  flying  from  night's  brow,  had  brought 
Their  liquid  love  to  thine. 
But  I  forget:  they're  not  the  words  1  mean. 

Helen.     Wilt  sing,  Sophia? 

Sophia.  I  obey  thee.  Queen. 

Of  knight  and  lady  to  each  other  true, 
I  sing  the  generous  lay,  their  due. 

Yes,  lady  dear,  for  aye  —  adieu! 

The  false  world  I  defy,  lady; 
But  thou,  sweet  soul,  so  fair,  so  true, 

I  would  thou  couldst  not  sigh,  lady. 
Oh !  mind  thee  not  of  me  when  gone, 

But  lay  thy  memory  by,  lady ; 
In  light  and  joyance  live  thou  on  ; 

Leave  me,  leave  me  to  sigh,  lady ! 


FESTUS.  329 

0  fair !  O  true !  for  aye  I  go  ; 
From  thee,  from  thee  I  hie,  lady; 

1  must  not  yield  me  to  thy  woe, 
I  dare  not  list  thee  sigh,  lady. 

Yonder  thou  seest  my  father's  hall. 
Whose  turrets  pierce  the  sky,  lady; 

Ah !  rather  might  they  on  me  fall. 
Than  I  would  hear  thee  sigh,  lady. 

To  far-off  lands  now  wends  his  way ; 

And,  if  he  there  should  die,  lady. 
Oh  !  let  thy  true  love,  happy,  say 

He  never  caused  thee  sigh,  lady. 
Farewell  for  aye !     It  wrings  thy  heart ; 

It  drowns  thy  darkening  eye,  lady. 
Farewell !  I  feel  what  'tis  to  part ; 

But  say  thou  wilt  not  sigh,  lady. 

Will.     May  none  here  ever  know  as  true, 
The  false,  cold  lover's  last  adieu ! 
But  yet  to  show  things  as  they  be, 
The  false  maid,  thus,  ye  all  may  see. 

Thou  lov'st  another,  maiden! 

And  I  am  free  as  thou; 
My  heart  with  scorn  is  laden, 

To  speak  but  with  thee  now. 
Though  through  thy  glossy  ringlets 

My  hand  hath  often  played, 

42  BB^ 


330  FESTUS. 

Here  —  take  it  back!  I  loathe  it  — 
The  long  imbosomed  braid. 

Away,  away !  no  more  with  thee, 
Thou  falsest,  fairest  maid! 

One  heart  is  ripe  and  laden 

With  love  for  me  e'en  now ; 
I'll  woo  me,  then,  the  maiden 

More  kind,  more  true  than  thou. 
Then  give  it  to  my  rival. 

The  black  and  glossy  braid ; 
And  give  the  hand  which  twined  it. 

The  cheek  whereon  it  played. 
Away,  away!  no  more  with  thee. 

Thou  fairest,  falsest  maid. 

Walter.     A  gem  may  have  a  hundred  sides, 
And  glitter  bright  in  each: 
Where  true  philosophy  presides 
Pleasure  it  is  to  teach ; 

I  therefore  choose  the  charms  of  happy  faith. 
Secure  in  love's  all-present  joy; 
From  aught  that  might  e'en  dreams  alloy. 
With  dread  of  future  skaith. 

I  dreamed  of  thee,  love,  in  the  eve, 
And  I  lay  among  bright,  blushing  flowers ; 
I  awoke  —  and,  ah !  how  could  I  grieve. 
If  the  blooms  hurried  back  to  their  bowers'? 


FESTUS.  331 

I  dreamed  of  thee,  love,  in  the  night, 
And  the  stars  stood  around  by  my  head; 
I  awoke  to   thy  beauty  so  bright. 
And  the  stars  hid  their  faces  and  fled. 

I  dreamed  of  thee,  love,  in  the  morn. 
And  a  poet's  bright  dreamings  drew  nigh; 
I  awoke,  and  I  laughed  them  to  scorn; 
They  were  black  by  the  blink  of  thine  eye. 

I  dreamed  of  thee,  love,  in  the  day, 
And  I  wept  as  I  slept  o'er  thy  charms ; 
I  awoke  as  my  dream  went  away. 
And  my  tears  were  all  wet  on  thine  arms. 

Helen.     Ah !  who  would  long  for  bliss  above, 
That  tastes  the  joys  below  1 
Or,  hanging  on  the  lips  of  Love, 
Would  seek  to  kiss  his  brow  ] 
Unless  to  change  and  clear  the  taste, 
Lest  sweets  in  sameness  run  to  waste. 

George.     Come,  do  you  dance'? 

Laurence.  No  ;   we  two  here  remain. 

Marian.      But    why    indulge    in    mutual    sorrows 
vain"? 
And  if  I  grant  this  one  request  — 

Laurence.     It  is  the  last  time  I  shall  be  so  blest. 
Oh !  thou  art  kind,  and  I  will  think 
This  wine  to  be  thy  love  I  drink; 


332  FESTUS. 

Blood,  my  heart  would  gladly  miss, 

Could  it  so  be  filled  with  this ; 

And  each  pulse  would  madlier  move, 

Warm  with  wine,  alive  with  love. 

Look  upon  it,  love,  and  weep 

Thine  eyelight  o'er  its  purple  deep; 

So  each  luminous  glance  shall  be 

Like  a  phosphor  globelet  in  the  sea. 

Other  lovers  soon  will  sue  thee  — 

Let  them  —  they  will  ne'er  possess 

More  than  I  enjoy,  who  view  the 

Lightning  of  thy  loveliness. 

It  may  be  love  and  light  in  Heaven, 

But  here,  on  earth,  such  love  is  death  ; 

And  such  light  is  blindness  driven. 

Lance-like,  through  the  breast  and  breath. 

All  who  love  thee,  sure  will  die : 

Thy  beauty  hath  fatality. 

For  now  is  near  my  heart's  last  hour; 

I  feel  it  failing  like  a  flower. 

When  folding  up  its  leaves  to  rest. 

And  narrowing  in  its  own  sweet  breast. 

I  mean  not,  that  I  die  to-day. 

But  that  my  spirit  wears  away; 

And,  save  thyself,  sees  nought  to  lure  it 

Back  to  earth's  falsehoods  which  immure  it. 

Marian.     Thou  wilt  live  yet  many  happy  yeais. 
Far  more  in  number  than  the  tears 


FESTUS.  333 

Men  shed  o'er  broken  hearts,  if  not 
When  first  forsaken,  aye  forgot ; 
While  we,  according  to  old  fashion. 
With  our  own  tears  must  slake  our  passion ; 
Or,  weeping  in  our  bosoms,  lorn  and  lone. 
Try  if  tears  cannot  turn  the  heart  to  stone. 
Laurence.     Promise,  dearest,  when  I  die, 
Not  to  mourn,  nor  weep,  nor  sigh ; 
Eyes  like  thine  should  never  weep. 
Nor  sweet  bosom  sorrow  keep. 
Let  nor  stone,  nor  verse,  nor  aught 
Mark  where  rests  —  what  loved  and  thought; 
If  they  ask  thee  where  I  lie. 
Say,  within  thy  memory. 
Weep  not  thou  o'er  grave  of  mine, 
Sprinkle  on  it  sparkling  wine ; 
That  shall  keep  the  grass  all  new 
Like  to  an  immortal  dew ; 
And  some  fallen  star  shall  stay. 
Watching,  while  thou  art  away. 
Scatter  rose  and  ivy  wreath 
On  the  turf  I  rest  beneath ; 
Dance,  and  sing  my  favorite  song 
Through  the  deep-blue  twilight  long ; 
In  that  rich  and  ringing  tone. 
Heaven  to  thee,  love,  lends  alone. 
When  I'm  gone,  then,  come  again ; 
Talk  to  me  in  lightsome  strain ; 


334  FESTUS. 

Should  I  answer,  start  not  thou ! 

I'll  but  say  Tm  blest  as  now; 

Should  no  sound  the  silence  break, 

Think  me,  Oh !  too  blest  to  speak. 

Let  me  lie  till  angels  say. 

Wake !  the  world's  long  week  is  past. 

Spirit !  this  is  holyday ; 

This  is  God's  —  the  best  and  last. 

Helen.     Come,  Marian,  having  finished  our  parade, 
We  have  leisure  now  to  list  another  lay ; 
But  since  you  have  not  been  dancing,  I'm  afraid 
Laurence  and  you  are  idle,  lovesick,  say? 

Marian.    Could  I  comply,  I'd  not  remain  thus  mute. 

Frederic.     Shall  I  sing  for  you  as  a  substitute? 

I  saw  a  rose  was  fading  — 

Fading  'neath  mine  eye; 

When  thus,  with  love's  upbraiding, 

I  heard  that  past  one  sigh :  — 

Oh!  give  me  back  one  blush  — 

But  one  from  out  the  many 

I  loved  to  give  to  thee 

Ere  other  I  knew  any  — 

Liked  or  looked  on  any. 

For  I  am  sad  and  lonely  — 
liOne,  and  like  to  die ; 
Oh!  give  me  back  one  only, 
I  am  too  weak  to  cry. 


F  E  S  T  u  s .  336 

The  beam,  the  breeze,  the  dew. 
Shun  now  my  shrinking  bosom ; 
Tears  I  have  need  but  few, 
Their  brine  can  bring  no  blossom  — 
Me,  nor  blight  nor  blossom. 

Then  to  that  rose  was  failing  — 
Failing  'neath  mine  eye, 
I  said,  'Tis  useless  wailing; 
Forget,  forgive,  and  die. 
One  look  to  Heaven  in  prayer. 
And  one  to  me  in  kindness ; 
The  death  wind  shook  its  leaves, 
And  I  was  one  with  blindness  — 
Lone  in  burning  blindness. 

Harry.    Although  I  would  not  needlessly  intrude  — 
Fanny.     To  sing,  not  being  asked,  is  rude. 
Harry.      To  cease  with  such  a  dull,  down-hearted 

dittv 
Would  be  a  wrong,  I  think,  as  well  as  pity. 
Lucy.     Pray,  sing  us  something  livelier,  then. 
Sophia.     And  don't  be  personal  again. 
Harry.     Annie's  eyes  are  like  the  night, 

Nell's  are  like  the  morning  gray, 

Fanny's  like  the  gloaming  light, 

Hal's  are  sunny  as  the  day: 
Bright  —  dark — blue —  gray, 

I  could  kiss  them  night  and  day  ; 


336  FESTL'S. 

Gray  —  blue  —  dark  —  bright  — 
Morning,  evening,  noon,  and  night. 

Annie's  brow's  arched  like  the  sky, 
Nell's  is  white  without  a  spot, 
Hal's  is  as  a  palace  high, 
Fanny's  lowly  like  a  cot : 

High  —  arched  —  low  —  white, 
I  could  kiss  them  day  and  night ; 

"White  —  low —  arched  —  high. 
Kiss  them  night  and  day  could  I. 

Annie's  lips  are  warm  and  bright, 
Fanny's  free  and  full  of  play, 
Hal's  are  sweetest  out  of  sight, 
Nell's  are  always  in  the  way ; 

Bright  —  warm  —  sweet  —  play, 
I  could  kiss  them  night  and  day ; 

Play  —  sweet  —  warm  —  bright. 
All  the  day  and  all  the  night. 

Will.     Mulcted  in  song,  I  hasten  to  discharge 
ITie  debt  I  owe,  and  pay  it  thus  in  large. 

Oh!  Love's  a  bold  pirate — the  soul  of  the  sea! 
He  impresses  the  proud,  and  he  fetters  the  free; 
His  flag's  a  red  heart,  in  the  bows  are  his  guns, 
And  the  wind's  always  with  him  —  the  foe  ever  runs 


FESTUS.  33" 

Oh !  Love's  a  bold  pirate  —  the  sword  of  the  sea ! 
For  the  poor  he  hath  plunder,  and  fame  for  the  free  : 
At  home,  in  a  chase,  he  nor  spares  foe  nor  friend ; 
Though  a  stern  chase,  and   long    chase,    the    longest 
must  end. 

Oh !  Love's  a  bold  pirate  —  the  pet  of  the  sea ! 

He  will  do  all,  and  dare  all,  'gainst  all  that  may  be ; 

He  hails  her  all  fair,  just  before  they  fall  to't. 

And  his  foe  makes  his  prize  and  his  consort  to  boot. 

Helen.      The    day    hath    darkened    into    twilight, 

night 
Hath  glittered  into  starlight  since  we  met; 
The  restorative  dew  hangs  thick  and  bright 
On  herb,  and  tree,  and  flower :  yon  foamy  jet 
Flings  up  its  bubbling  music  chillier  now. 
And  droop  the  blooms   that  long  have  wreathed   the 

brow. 
Ladies,  and  you,  bold  serfs !  I  now  propose 
To  bring  this  joyous  vigil  to  a  close, 
And  as  all  bidden  have  now  paid  their  fine. 
To  leave  these  heroes  to  their  fate  —  their  wine. 

Charles.     Except  yourself,  dear  despot,  all 
Have  done  their  best  to  hum  or  squall ; 
But  if  your  beauty  ship  would  condescend 
To  teach  us  what  true  melody  might  be, 
There's  not  a  creature  present  but  would  lend 
His  ears  to  listen  for  a  century. 

43  cc 


838  FESTUS. 

Helen.     Sir,  I  respect  you  for  your  flattery, 
All  compliments,  of  course,  are  strange  to  me ; 
The  moral  strength  required  for  flattery  now. 
To  a  fair  Queen,  is  great,  you  must  allow: 
I  only  envy  you  the  power  to  make  them. 

Charles.     'Tis,  sure,  the  better  part  to  take  them. 

Helen.      We   don't   believe    them  when    you    pay 
them. 

Charles.     Nor  we  when  we  say  them. 
No  longer  then,  ladies,  I  pray. 
At  our  flattery  or  fickleness  grieve ; 
If  you  never  believe  what  we  say. 
We  never  say  what  we  believe. 

Helen.     From  our  rule  and  example,  gentles,  learn, 
And  lay  this  to  your  hearts,  each  one  in  turn : 
Pay  compliments,  pay  visits,  pay  respects. 
But  pay  your  just  debts  first. 

Harry.  Our  whole  effects  ! 

Helen.     The  royal  rule  of  pure  equality 
In  complaisance  and  kindness  still  shall  be 
Confided  in,  and  reverenced  by  me ; 
So  shall  my  deed  of  abdication  make 
All  love  the  loser,  for  the  losing's  sake. 
Attend !  my  song  the  constancy  discovers 
Of  a  right  royal  pair  of  lovers. 

Come,  beloved,  let  us  roam 

Forth  into  the  golden  fields; 
Yon  high  palace  marks  our  home. 

Ours  is  all  that  nature  fields  ; 


FESTUS.  339 

^'--       Come,  bethrotlied  and  espoused, 

Earth  is  rising  towards  the  sun, 
And  with  light  and  joy  aroused 
Meets  the  love  within  us  one. 

Open  now  thy  sleep-dewed  eyes, 

Show  the  subject-soul  its  queen  ; 
Brighter  than  the  new-born  skies 

Their  delicious  depths,  I  ween. 
Don  thee,  love,  thy  royal  white ; 

Needs  no  more  divine  array ; 
Fairer  than  the  morning  light, 

Rule  thou  ever  with  the  day. 

Come  the  morrow,  day  divine. 

All  shall  wake  and  bless  the  sun ; 
Those  thou  lovest  shall  be  mine. 

They,  and  thou,  and  I  be  one; 
Crown  and  throne  the  world  shall  gain, 

Thou,  the  universal  state ; 
Bride  of  Beauty !  rise  and  reign  ; 

Love  thy  life,  and  Heaven  thy  fate. 

Charles.     The  meaning  whereof,  as  I  take  it, — 
Helen.     True  ;  it's  exactly  what  you  make  it. 
George.     There's  only  one  thing  wanting  that  could 
mend 
That  song ;  —  a  blaze  of  fireworks  at  the  end. 


340  FESTUS. 

Helen.      Farewell,  friends !    let    us    hope  to    meet 
again 
When  others  may  be  present  whom  we  know. 

Edward.     Adieu  !  ye  semi-deities  !  in  vain 
The  world  may  worship  idols. 

George.  Pray,  do  go!  — 

Walter.      At   last,  the  so-called   soulless  have  de- 
parted. 
Leaving  sundry  broken-hearted. 

Frederic.     To  make  the  life  of  perfect  mould, 
Like  that  in  Paradise  of  old, 
Each  must  give  their  better  part ;  — 
We  our  soul,  and  they  their  heart. 

Laurence.     The  night  hath  gone,  and  all  the  stars 
Have  vanished  at  the  sun's  bright  warning; 
Still  the  moon,  ghost-like,  haunts  the  heaven. 
As  though  she  deemed  to  her  'twas  given : 
"N^Hiat  hath  the  moon  to  do  with  morning'? 
So  love  is  fled,  and  all  the  fair 
Gone;   some  with  smiling,  some  with  scorning, 
Save  one,  the  fairest  far  above. 
But  what  have  I  to  do  with  love. 
More  than  the  moon  hath  with  the  morning  ] 
The  moon  hath  lost  her  light,  and  se^s 
To  dim  the  scene  she  was  once  adorning; 
So  my  poor  heart,  its  love  light  gone. 
Still  in  the  heavens  where  late  it  shone, 
Lags  like  the  moon  upon  the  morning. 


FESTUS^  341 

But  1  am  likest  to  that  moon  in  this, 
That  I  am  brightest  when  my  love's  away ; 
For  when  with  her,  my  borrowed  light  is  lost, 
As  is  the  moon's  amid  the  dazzling  day. 

Harry.    Come,  pass  the  ruby  round.    There's  nought 
so  dull 
As  to  behold  a  noble  vessel,  full 
Of  radiant  blessings,  halt  upon  its  way; 
So  fairly  give  and  fairly  take,  I  say. 
Progress  is  nature's  unexcepted  law, 
'Twere  better  e'en  to  go  from  bad  to  worse, 
Than  'tween  two  like  degrees  of  ill,  seesaw; 
Stagnation  is  a  universal  curse. 

There  is  nothing  stands  still — so  old  sages  declare. 
But  the  world's  ever  changing  in  earth,  sea,  and  air ; 
All  the  powers  of  nature,  in  truth  if  we  trace, 
What  are  they  1  —  what  are  they,  but  running  a  race  ? 
The  winds  from  all  quarters  career  through  the  sky, 
They  blow  hot,  they  blow  cold,  they  blow  swift,  they 

blow  high ; 
They  follow,  they  flank,  and  they  fly  in  our  face ; 
What  are  theyl  —  what  are  they,  but  running  a  race  ? 
The  rivers  that  run  to  the  ends  of  the  earth 
Flow  thousands  of  miles  from  the  place  of  their  birth ; 
From  the  old  and  the  new  world  they  pour  out  apace  — 
What  are  they '?  —  what  are  they,  but  running  a  race  ? 
*  The  worlds  they  call  wanderers  rolling  on  high, 
That  enlighten  the  earth  and  enliven  the  sky, 

cc* 


342  FESTUS. 

Going  hundreds  of  miles  in  a  minute  through  space  — 
What  are  theyl — what  are  they,  but  running  a  race] 
Then,  with  goblets  before  us,  whatever  they  hold, 
Let  the  hue  of  the  nectar  be  purple,  be  gold, — 
Let  us  say,  as  we  sit  among  friends,  face  to  face. 
What  are  they  1  —  what  are  they,  but  running  a  race  ? 

Laurence.     All   this   is   lively.     Beauty,   love,  and 
mirth 
Might  seem  to  flavor  even  vapid  earth 
To  a  pure  spirit's  lips.     For  my  own  part, 
I  own  it  sinks  life  deeper  in  my  heart 
At  every  fresh  recurrence :  but  at  times 
A  thought  comes  tolling  o'er  the  darkened  soul 
Which  we  dare  hardly  guest ;  but  ill  it  chimes 
With  scenes  of  joy  like  this,  which  from  the  roll 
Of  memory  we  oft  would  fain  erase. 

George.     Not  I,  one  jot,  save  your  ill-omened  face. 

Walter.     For   sacred   riddles  this  is  neither   time 
nor  place. 

Laurence.     No  ;  but  of  earth  some  sacred  writings 
tell 
Its  flower  was  •  paradise,  its  fruit  was  hell. 
Such  is  the  fruit  of  worldly  pleasure  now ; 
And  thus,  perhaps,  my  meaning  you  may  trace. 

Harry.     We  do ;  but  think  it  useless  to  avow 
Such  views  at  festive  moments  like  the  present. 

Charles.      Indeed,  they  call  up   notions  quite  un- 
pleasant. 


F  EST  us.  343 

So,  let  us  rout  them  by  another  draught 
And  thoughts  bright  as  the  beverage  quaffed. 

Harry.     The  future  is  the  world  of  youth  — 
The  future  is  our  joy ; 
We  dream  of  honor,  love,  and  truth, 
And  bliss  without  alloy. 
But  harp  not  now  on  love  or  truth, 
Forget  your  dreams  of  glory ; 
The  wine  will  double  us  our  youth  — 
To-morrow  dream  again  of  sooth  — 
But  now  to  what's  before  ye. 
Oh !  age  will  cloud  youth's  sunny  brow, 
And  sorrows  plough  the  cheek ; 
The  mirth  we  spread,  the  joy  we  know. 
Then  'twill  be  vain  to  seek. 
The  old  say,  life  has  more  of  ill 
Than  good  —  of  grief,  than  gladness ;  still, 
Within  our  cup  one  drop  of  joy. 
Too  small,  if  not  too  sweet,  to  cloy, 
Alway  doth  remain. 
With  us  it  shall  be  more  than  love, 
Or  fame,  or  faith,  or  gain  ; 
And  sweet  as  Heaven's  own  fruit  above, 
The  common  sweeteners  of  life's  bitter  grain. 
Yes !  yes !  the  memory  of  this  night. 
In  age's  veriest  midnight  hours. 

Shall  flash  on  our  minds  with  a  northern-light  light, 
And  a  prelude  of  pleasure  illumine  the  night, 
Whose  morn  we  shall  breathe  in  immortal  bowers. 


844  FESTUS. 

Charles.      Some   say  Truth  lies  in  water,  some  in 

wine ; 
Suppose  T  mix  them ;  now  she  must  be  mine. 

Frank.      Nothing    again    will    serve    to    make    us 

merry. 
Frederic.     'Twas  stupid  in  you,  Laurence. 
Laurence.  Was  if? 

Will.  Very. 

Edward.     Infernal  cant,  you'll  always  find, 
Upsets  all  pleasant  parties  of  this  kind. 

George.     He   has    put   the  company,  'tis  plain,  to 

flight; 
Walter.     And  so  I  say  — 
Charles.  I'm  going,  too. 

All.  Good  night! 

Scene  —  A  Visit. 

Festus  and  Helen. 

Helen.     Come  to  the  light,  love !     Let  me  look  on 
thee! 
Let  me  make  sure  I  have  thee.     Is  it  thou] 
Is  this  thy  hand]     Are  these  thy  velvet  lips,— 
Thy  lips  so  lovable?     Nay,  speak  not  yet! 
For  oft  as  I  have  dreamed  of  thee,  it  was 
Thy  speaking  woke  me.     I  will  dream  no  more. 
Am  I  alive]     And  do  I  really  look 
Upon  these  soft  and  sea-blue  eyes  of  thine. 


FESTUS.  345 

Wherein  I  half  believe  I  can  espy 

The  riches  of  the  sea  1     These  dark,  rolled  locks ! 

0  God !   art  Thou  not  glad,  too,  he  is  here  1  — 
Where  hast  thou  been  so  long?  —  never  to  hear, 
Never  to  see,  nor  see  one  who  had  seen  thee. 
Come,  now,  confess  it  was  not  kind  to  treat 
Me  in  this  manner. 

Festus.  I  confess,  my  love. 

But  I  have  been  where  neither  tongue,  nor  pen. 
Nor  hand  could  give  thee  token  where  I  was ; 
And  seen,  —  but  'tis  enough  !     I  see  thee  noAV. 

1  would  rather  look  upon  thy  shadow  there. 
Than  Heaven's  bright  thrones  forever. 

Helen.  Where  hast  been? 

Festus.     Say,  am  I  altered  1 

Helen.  Nowise. 

Festus.  It  is  well. 

Then  in  the  resurrection  we  may  know 
Each  other.     I  have  been  among  the  worlds, 
Angels  and  spirits  bodiless. 

Helen.  Great  God ! 

Can  it  be  so  ] 

Festus.  It  is  :  —  and  that  both  here 

And  elsewhere.     When  the  stars  come,  thou  shalt  see 
The  track  I  travelled  through  the  light  of  night ; 
Where  I  have  been,  and  whence  my  visitors. 

Helen.     And  thou  hast   been  with  angels   all   the 
while, 
And  still  dost  love  me? 

44 


346  FESTUS. 

Festus.  Constantly,  as  now. 

But  for  the  time  I  did  devote  my  soul 
To  their  divine  society.     I  knew 
Thou  wouldst  forgive,  yet  dared  not  trust  myself 
To  see  thee,  or  to  pen  one  word,  for  fear 
Thy  love  should  overpower  the  plan  conceived. 
And  acting,  in  my  mind,  of  visiting 
The  spirits  in  their  space-imbosomed  homes. 

Helen.      Forgive   thee !   'tis   a   deed   which   merits 
love. 
And  should  I  not  be  proud,  too,  who  can  say, 
For  me  he  left  all  angels'? 

Festus.  I  forethought 

So  thou  wouldst  say  ;  but  with  an  oiFering 
Came  I  provided,  even  with  a  trophy 
Of  love  angelic,  given  me  for  thee; 
For  angel  bosoms  know  no  jealousy. 

Helen.     Show  me. 

Festus.  It  is  of  jewels  I  received 

From  one  who  snatched  them  from  the  richest  wreck 
Of  matter  ever  made ;  the  holiest 
And  most  resplendent. 

Helen.  Why,  what  could  it  bel 

Jewels  are  baubles  only;  whether  pearls 
From  the  sea's  lightless  depths,  or  diamonds 
Culled  from  the  mountain's  crown,  or  chrysolith, 
Cat's  eye,  or  moonstone,  —  toys  are  they  at  best. 
Jewels  are  not  of  all  things  in  my  sight 
Most  precious. 


FESTUS.  347 

Festus.  Nor  in  mine.     It  is  in  the  use 

Of  which  they  may  be  made  their  value  lies  ; 
In  the  pure  thoughts  of  beauty  they  call  up, 
And  qualities  they  emblem.     So  in  that 
Thou  wearest  there,  thy  cross ;  —  to  me  it  is 
Suggestive  of  bright  thoughts  and  hopes  in  Him 
Whose  one  great  sacrifice  availeth  all, 
Living  and  dead,  through  all  eternity. 
Not  to  the  wanderer  over  southern  seas 
Rises  the  constellation  of  the  Cross 
More  lovelily  o'er  sky  and  calm  blue  wave. 
Than  does  to  me  that  bright  one  on  thy  breast. 
As  diamonds  are  purest  of  all  things. 
And  but  embodied  light  which  fire  consumes 
And  renders  back  to  air,  that  nought  remains, — 
And  as  the  cross  is  symbol  of  our  creed. 
So  let  that  ornament  signify  to  thee 
The  faith  of  Christ,  all  purity,  all  light. 
Through  fervency  resolving  into  Heaven. 
Each  hath  his  cross,  fair  lady,  on  his  heart ; 
Never  may  thine  be  heavier  or  darker 
Than  that  now  on  thy  breast,  so  light  and  bright, 
Rising  and  falling  with  its  bosom-swell. 

Helen.     I  thank  thee  for  that  wish,  and  for  the  love 
Which  prompts  it — -the  immeasurable  love 
I  know  is  mine,  and  I  with  none  would  share. 
Forgive  me ;  I  have  not  yet  felt  my  Avings. 
Now,  have  I  not  been  patient  1     Let  me  see 
My  promised  present. 


348  F  EST  us. 

Festus.  Look,  then  —  they  are  here  ; 

Bracelets  of  chrysoprase. 

Helen.  Most  beautiful! 

Festus.     Come,  let  me  clasp  them,  dearest,  on  thine 
arms  ; 
For  these  of  those  are  worthy,  and  are  named 
In  the  foundation  stones  of  the  bright  city, 
Which  is  to  be  for  the  immortal  saved, 
Their  last  and  blest  abode;   and  such  their  hue, 
The  golden  green  of  paradisal  plains 
Which  lie  about  it  boundlessly,  and  more 
Intensely  tinted  with  the  burning  beauty 
Of  God's  eye,  which  alone  doth  light  that  land, 
Than  our  earth's  cold  grass-garment  with  the  sun ; 
Though  even  in  the  bright,  hot,  blue-skied  East, 
Where  he  doth  live  the  life  of  light  and  Heaven  ; 
Where,  o'er  the  mountains,  at  midday  is  seen 
The  morning  star,  and  the  moon  tans  at  night 
The  cheek  of  careless  sleeper.     Take  them,  love. 
There  are  no  nobler  earthly  ornaments 
Than  jewels  of  the  city  of  the  saved. 

Helen.     But  how  are  these  of  that  bright  city  1    I 
Am  eager  for  their  history. 

Festus.  They  are 

Thereof  prophetically,  and  have  been 
What  I  Avill  show  thee  presently,  when  I 
Relate  the  story  of  the  angel  who 
Gave  them  to  me. 

Helen.  AVell ;  I  will  wait  till  then. 


FESTUS.  349 

Or  any  time  thou  choosest:  'tis  enough 

That  I  believe  thee  always ;  —  but  would  know, 

If  not  in  me  too  curious  to  ask, 

How  came  about  these  miracles  ]     Hast  thou  raised 

The  Fiend  of  fiends,  and  made  a  compact  dark. 

Sealed  with  thy  blood,  symbolic  of  the  soul, 

Whereby  all  power  is  given  thee  for  a  time, 

All  means,  all  knowledge,  to  make  more  secure 

Thy  spirit's  dread  perdition  at  the  end  ] 

I  of  such  awful  stories  oft  have  heard. 

And  the  unlawful  lore  which  ruins  souls. 

Myself  have  charms,  foresee  events  in  dreams ; 

Can  prophesy,  prognosticate,  know  well 

The  secret  ties  between  many  magic  herbs 

And  mortal  feelings,  nor  condemn  myself 

For  knowing  what  is  innocent ;  but  thou  ! 

Thy  helps  are  mightier  far,  and  more  obscure. 

Was  it  with  wand  and  circle,  book  and  skull. 

With  rites  forbid  and  backward-jabbered  prayers. 

In  cross-roads  or  in  churchyard,  at  full  moon. 

And  by  instruction  of  the  ghostly  dead, 

That  thou  hast  wrought  these  wonders,  and  attained 

Such  high,  transcendent  powers  and  secrets  1     Speak ! 

Or  is  man's  mastery  over  spirits  not 

Of  such  a  vile  and  vulgar  consequence? 

Festus.    W^ere  not  my  heart  as  guiltless  of  all  mirth 
As  is  the  oracle  of  an  extinct  god 
Of  its  priest-prompted  answer,  I  might  smile 
To  list  such  askings.     Mind's  command  o'er  mind. 


350  FESTUS. 

Spirit's  o'er  spirit,  is  the  clear  effect 

And  natural  action  of  an  inward  gift, 

Given  of  God,  whereby  the  incarnate  soul 

Hath  power  to  pass  free  out  of  earth  and  death 

To  immortality  and  Heaven,  and  mate 

With  beings  of  a  kind,  condition,  lot. 

All  diverse  from  its  own.     This  mastery 

Means  but  communion,  the  power  to  quit 

Life's  little  globule  here,  and  coalesce 

With  the  great  mass  about  us.     For  the  rest. 

To  raise  the  devil  were  an  infant's  task 

To  that  of  raising  man.     Why,  every  one 

Conjures  the  Fiend  from  hell  into  himself 

When  passion  chokes  or  blinds  him.     Sin  is  hell. 

Helen.     How   dost   thou    bring    a    spirit   to    theo, 
Festus "? 

Festus.     It  is  my  will  which  makes  it  visible. 

Helen.     What    are    those   like,   whom    thou    hast 
seen]  * 

Festus.  They  come. 

The  denizens  of  other  worlds,  arrayed 
In  diverse  form  and  feature,  mostly  lovely; 
In  limb  and  wing  ethereal  finer  far 
Than  an  ephemeris'  pinion;  others,  armed 
With  gleaming  plumes,  that  might  o'ercome  an  air 
Of  adamantine  denseness,  pranked  with  fire. 
All  are  of  different  offices  and  strengths, 
Powers,  orders,  tendencies,  in  like  degrees 
As  men,  with  even  more  variety ; 


FESTUS.  851 

Of  different  glories,  duties,  and  delights. 

Even  as  the  light  of  meteor,  satellite. 

Planet  and  comet,  sun,  star,  nebula. 

Differ,  and  nature  also,  so  do  theirs. 

With  them  is  neither  need,  nor  sex,  nor  age^ 

Nor  generation,  growth,  decay,  nor  death ; 

Or  none  whom  I  have  known  ;   there  may  be  such. 

Mature  they  are  created  and  complete, 

Or  seem  to  be.     Perfect  from  God  they  come. 

Yet  have  they  different  degrees  of  beaut}', 

Even  as  strength  and  holy  excellence. 

Some  seem  of  milder  and  more  feminine 

Nature  than  others,  —  Beauty's  proper  sex. 

Shown  but  by  softer  qualities  of  soul. 

More  lovable  than  awful,  more  devote 

To  deeds  of  individual  piety. 

And  grace,  than  mighty  missions  fit  to  task 

Sublimest  spirits,  or  the  toil  intense 

Of  cultivating  nations  of  their  kind ; 

Or  working  out  from  the  problem  of  the  world 

The  great  results  of  God,  —  result,  sum,  cause. 

These  ofttimes  charged  with  delegated  powers, 

Formative  or  destructive ;  those,  in  chief, 

Ordained  to  better  and  to  beautify 

Existence  as  it  is ;  with  careful  love 

To  tend  upon  particular  worlds  or  souls ; 

Warning  and  training  whom  they  love  to  tread 

The  soft  and  blossom-bordered,  silvery  paths 

Which  lead  and  lure  the  soul  to  paradise. 


;352  F  EST  us. 

Making  the  feet  shine  which  do  walk  on  them; 
While  each  doth  God's  great  will  alike,  and  both 
With  their  whole  nature's  fulness  love  His  works. 
To  love  them  lifts  the  soul  to  Heaven. 

Helen.  Let  me,  then  ! 

Whence  come  they] 

Festus.  Many  of  them  come  from  orbs 

Wherein  the  rudest  matter  is  more  worth 
And  fair  than  queenly  gem  ;  the  dullest  dust 
Beneath  their  feet  is  rosy  diamonds :  — 
Others,  direct  from  Heaven;  but  all  in  high 
And  serious  love  toAvnrds  those  to  whom  they  come. 
None  but  the  blest  are  free  to  visit  where 
They  choose.     The  lost  are  slaves  forever;  here 
Never  but  on  their  Master's  merciless 
Business,  nor  elsewhere.     Still,  sometimes  with  these 
Dark  spirits  have  I  held  communion. 
And  in  their  souls'  deep  shadowy  as  within 
A  mountain  cavern  of  the  moon,  conversed 
With  them,  and  wormed  from  them  the  gnawing  truth 
Of  their  extreme  perdition  ;  marking  oft 
Nature  revealed  by  torture,  as  a  leaf 
Unfolds  itself  in  fire,  and  writhes  the  while. 
Burning,  yet  unconsumed.     Others  there  are 
Come  garlanded  with  flowers  unwithering. 
Or  crowned  with  sunny  jewels,  clad  in  light. 
And  girded  with  the  lightning,  in  their  hands 
Wands  of  pure  rays  or  arrowy  starbeams ;   some 
Bright  as  the  sun  self-lit,  in  stature  tall, 


FESTUS.  353 

Strong,  straight,  and  splendid  as  the  golden  reed 
Whereby  the  height,   and  length,   and   breadth,   and 

depth 
Of  the  descendent  city  of  the  skies. 
In  which  God  sometimes  shall  make  glad  with  man, 
Were  measured  by  the  angel ;  —  the  same  reed 
Wherewith  our  Lord  was  mocked,  that  angel  found 
Close  by  the  cross  and  took ;    God  made  it  gold. 
And  now  it  makes  the  sceptre  of  His  Son 
Over  all  worlds ;  the  sole,  bright  rule  of  Heaven, 
The  measure  of  immortal  life,  the  scale 
Of  power,  love,  bliss,  and  glory  infinite ;  — 
Some  gorgeous  and  gigantic,  who,  with  wings 
Wide  as  the  wings  of  armies  in  the  field 
Drawn  out  for  death,  sweep  over  Heaven,  and  eyes 
Deep,  dark  as  sea-worn  caverns,  with  a  torch 
At  the  end,  far  back,  glaring.     Some  with  wings 
Like  an  unfainting  rainbow,  studded  round 
With  stones  of  every  hue  and  excellence. 
Writ  o'er  with  mystic  words  which  none  may  read 
But  those  to  whom  their  spiritual  state 
Gives  correlative  meaning  fit  thereto. 
Some  of  these  \isit  me  in  dreams  ;  Avith  some 
Have  I  made  one  in  visions,  in  their  own 
Abodes  of  brightness,  blessedness,  and  power; 
And  know,  moreover,  I  shall  joy  with  them, 
Ere  long  their  sacred  guest,  through  ages  yet 
To  come,  in  worlds  not  now  perhaps  create, 
As  they  have  been  mine  here:  and  some  of  them 

45  DD* 


354  r  EST  us. 

In  unimaginable  splendors  I 

Have  walked   with    through    their  winged  worlds    of 

light, 
Double  and  triple  party-colored  suns 
And  systems  circling  each  the  other,  clad 
In  tints  of  light  and  air,  whereto  this  earth 
Hath  nothing  like,  and  man  no  knowledge  of:  — 
Orbs  heaped  with  mountains,  to  the  which  ours  are 
Mere  grave  mounds,  and  their  skies  flower  with  stars, 
Violet,  rose  or  pcarl-hued,  or  soft  blue, 
Golden  or  green,  the  light  now  blended,  now 
Alternate ;  many  moons  and  planets,  full, 
Crescent,  or  gibbous-faced,  illumining 
In  periodic  and  intricate  beauty 
At  once  those  strange  and  most  felicitous  skies. 
According  to  the  nature  of  those  spheres 
Their  natives  are  ;  some  human-like,  and  some 
Of  great,  gigantic  grace  and  happiest  air. 
Yet  solemn  as  the  sun  ;  they  walk  like  winds. 
Whose  dwelling  is  all  immaterial  space. 
And  vanish  slowly  in  the  hollow  heavens. 
Some  of  still  vaster  size  and  mightier  mien. 
Whose  movement  is  as  thunder  in  a  cloud, 
Devouring  space;  some  like  to  flickering  ghosts 
Of  fire,  while  underneath  their  every  step 
Spring  perfumes  up  and  flowers,  bedight  in  rays 
Aerial  of  the  purest,  brightest  skies ;  — 
Others  of  sanguine  hue,  whose  step  is  like 
An  instantaneous  trembling  of  the  Heavens  ; 


F  EST  us.  355 

Others  again,  whose  forms  for  utter  bright 

Are  indefinable;    from  place  to  place  . 

Their  feet  pass  like  the  twinklings  of  the  stars ; 

Some  of  a  cold,  pure  bodily  rayonnance, 

As  is  the  moon's  of  naked  light,  ungarbed 

In  circumspheral  air,  who  glide  like  clouds  ; 

And  some  in  bands,  some  singly,  some  in  groups ; 

For  all  perchance  is  starlife  after  death  ; 

While  others  sworded,  sceptred,  crowned,  and  robed ; 

Spirits  of  power,  who  rule  each  one  his  star  : 

Spirits,  who  through  all  time  have  hoped  and  seen. 

Through  godless  darkness  and  deistic  dawn. 

The  solar  revelation  of  Heaven's  light ;  — 

Spirits,  whose  form  is  fire,  whose  life  is  strength, 

Precipitate  as  tempests,  are :  —  to  these 

Add  what  gives  earnest  of  inferior  life. 

Eagle,  dove,  lion,  lamb,  ox,  serpent,  horse ; 

Nor  lightly  estimate  such  signs,  but  mind 

The  potent  meaning  of  the  simplest  sign, 

To  one  whose  mind  is  meaning  to  itself 

For  angels  can  assume  the  form  they  please. 

And  transform  things  inanimate,  as  once 

With  earth's  angelic  watcher  I  beheld. 

The  lonely  diamond  which  decked  her  pale 

Transparent  brow  was  worth  a  mansion ;  worth 

A  mine  and  an  estate ;  so  pure  and  clear, 

All  globular  and  gloriously  sized. 

Like  one  large  drop  of  paradisal  dew 

Immortalized,  it  shone ;   and  so  it  was, 


356  FESTUS. 

Which  from  a  leaf  she  gathered  of  the  tree 
Of  perfect  life  on  Eden's  natal  morn. 

Helen.     How  I  should  love  to  visit  other  worlds, 
Or  see  an  angel! 

Festus.  Wilt  thou  now  1 

Helen.  I  dare  not; 

Not  now,  at  least.     I  am  not  in  the  mood. 
Ere  I  behold  a  spirit,  I  would  pray. 

Festus.     Light  as  a  leaf  they  step,  or  arrowy 
Footing  of  breeze  upon  a  waveless  pool ; 
Sudden  and  soft,  too,  like  a  waft  of  light, 
The  beautiful  immortals  come  to  me; 
Oh,  ever  lovely,  ever  welcome  they ! 

Helen.      Thou    speakest    me    of   visions ;    I  would 
learn 
The  nature  of  all  spiritual  things. 

Festus.     Matter  and  mind  comprise  the  universe, 
All  conscious  nature  and  self-conscious  art, 
As  the  twin-tidal  wave  inarms  the  world. 
Spirit  and  nature  act  contrariwise. 
Yet  harmonize  in  contrariety. 
Now  it  is  earth  which  riseth  towards  the  sun, 
And  not  the  sun  on  earth:  yet  let  us  deem 
God  seeketh  us,  illuminating  life ; 
Not  that  it  is  our  earth  rise  into  Heaven, 
Forced  by  orbitual  reason  towards  the  Truth 
Even  when  retrogressive.     In  the  pure. 
Black,  lifeless  void,  no  star  is  to  be  seen. 
Nothing  but  nothing  seeming  palpable. 


FESTUS.  357 

It  is  only  through  their  sensuous  atmospheres 

That  worlds  can  view  each  other,  or  that  light 

Itself  becomes  enlightening.     So  with  man. 

So  brightest  stars  are  but  the  darkest  dust 

Illumined  from  without,  and  central  fire 

Is  self-consummative  of  death  alone : 

So  light,  all  colorless,  all  colors  holds. 

Art  is  man's  nature,  nature  is  God's  art : 

Eternal  this,  that  temporal ;  and  thus 

Soul  in  itself  may  realize  all  time 

By  indagation  of  supremest  spheres 

Material  and  spiritual,  born 

Of  effluent  or  influent  Deity, 

Wliereby  the  universe  revolves  round  God 

In  everlasting  period,  —  He  Himself 

Conceiving,  bearing,  suflering,  ending  all, 

Affiliating  and  inheavening: — power 

And  means  vouched  heretofore  to  some,  and  now 

To  him  who  words  the  wonders  he  hath  seen. 

There  is  a  secret  sign  whereby  the  soul 

Feels  certainty  of  safety  and  of  power 

Imparted,  public  to  the  universe 

Which  then  looks  joyful  as  in  sight  of  rest, 

And  yet  unwist  of  by  a  single  world  ; 

Infallible  to  one  who  hath  received 

The  birthright  of  the  death-begotten  life; 

Stamped  in  the  spirit,  as  the   gleaming:  seal 

Upon  the  brows  of  those  imparadised, 

The  true  tri-literal  monogram  of  God. 


358  ■    FESTUS. 

High  o'er  the  sensible  Heavens  translated   far. 

Beyond  the  interchanging  universe 

Of  sense  and  substance,  body,  life  and  death, 

And  deathfulness  of  evil,  being's  bane. 

The  soul  to  whom  this  sign  is  given  lives; 

And  is  a  soul  of  the  first  magnitude. 

All  truth  is  vague,  all  error  is  distinct ; 

One  being  less,  one  greater  than  man's  soul : 

Whereof  the  true  transfiguration  takes 

Place,  and  reception  in  supernal  truth 

When  we  view  all  things  from  a  point  of  Heaven 

Opposed  to  the  world's  wisest  certainty. 

For  then  all  bright,  high,  seeming-scattered  thoughts 

By  ardent  contemplation  star  themselves 

Into  the  shapes  which  Faith  and  Reason  love 

To  fill  up  with  a  Heaven  of  their  own. 

The  world  is  as  a  great  sarcophagus,        • 

Engraven  inwardly  and  outAvardly 

With  living  emblems  of  its  inner  life 

And  soul-containing  tenant  of  all  time. 

The  same  hath  infinite  meanings  as  the  work 

Of  spirit  and  tenure  of  humanity ; 

Backwards  to  God,  and  forwards  read  for  man : 

Oft  differ  text  and  order;  wise  is  he 

Who  scans  and  construes  all  in  harmony. 

A  sacred  side  there  is  to  every  thing. 

As  given  or  forbidden,  false  or  true. 

According  to  the  greater  truth  involved, 

One  side  is  always  bright,  one  always  dark. 


FESTUS.  359 

Leaflike  and  moonlike ;   and  each  separate  life 

Is  as  a  leaf  which  waits  the  shining  breath 

Of  nature,  our  mysterious  prophetess, 

To  give  it  its  due  order  in  the  world. 

But  as  God's  own  true  name  is  uttered  not 

If  known  in  Heaven  the  highest,  nor  on  earth, 

So,  too,  there  are  innominable  depths. 

Which  cannot  be  revealed  of  human  life. 

And  ought  not  if  they  could;  the  elements 

Of  the  premortal  manhood  which  mhered 

In  the  conception  of  creative  mind  ; 

Since  shown  to  few,  and  only  dimly  known. 

Speech  is  divine,  but  silence  Deity. 

As  sleep  in  life,  and  dreams  in  sleep,  is  truth 

In  dreams  to  man.     Many  the  greatest  truths 

Have  been  made  known  in  visions  or  in  dreams. 

For  then  it  is  the  soul  recalls  the  spheres 

Of  preexistent  nature,  and  evokes 

The  ghosts  of  coming  ages,  or  unites 

Past,  present,  future  in  one  windlike  touch. 

Which  loosens  the  world's  zone,  and  renders  mind 

The  master  of  creation.     Be  it  so ! 

Once  I  received  a  vision  —  for  the  crown 

Of  nature  is  passivity,  and  our 

Best  mood  the  pure  recipient  —  in  a  state 

Of  twilight-iike  existence,  such  as  that 

Of  universal  substance,  when  the  sun, 

And  light  and  darkness,  moon,  and  Heaven  and  earth, 

Were  nigh  all  one,  and  nought  distinct  save  souls, 


360  FESTUS. 

Echoes  of  Light,  reacting  heaven  wardly. 

It  was  the  spirit  of  the  universe, 

Whose  breast  was  of  like  hemispheres  of  bliss, 

"Whereon  the  worlds  were  nursed,  that  I  beheld. 

The  fragrance  of  the  fadeless  fields  of  Heaven, 

The  endless  blessings  of  an  act  of  grace, 

Or  mercy's  matron  bosom  filled  her  words ; 

And  each  articulate  air  she  did  expire 

O'erladen  with  the  lore  of  ages,  e'en 

As  earth  was  with  her  old  baptismal  flood ; 

In  her  deep  eye  immortal  quiet  dwelt 

As  though  all  Heaven  had  settled  on  one  star. 

She  spake,  and  I  regarded  with  such  awe 

As  eaglet  when  he  first  beholds  the  sun. 

And  though  what  I  remember  be  all  true, 

Yet,  in  so  far  as  worded,  it  is  not 

The  entire  truth  uncircumscribable ; 

Can  a  spar  speak  how  it  was  crystallized? 

She  spake,  I  said,  the  spirit,  and  at  her  woi'd 

Behold  the  Heavens  were  opened  as  a  book. 

I  am  the  world-soul,  nature's  spirit  I. 

Ere  universe  or  constellation  was. 

System,  or  sun,  or  orb,  or  element. 

Darkness,  or  light,  or  atom,  I  first  lived; 

I  and  necessity,  though  tw^ain  in  life, 

Yet  one  in  being.     Time  and  life  are  one- 

But  insomuch  as  nature  is  destroyed 

In  God's  assumption  to  Divine  estate 

Of  an  especial  soul,  necessity 


FESTUS.  361 

Ends  in  extreme  original  nothingness  ; 

And  leaves  all  supernatural  existence  free, 

As  breath  in  air,  like-natured  with  the  same. 

Yet  altered  in  condition,  function,  form. 

And  glorified.     God  is,  and  men  exist. 

Free  agency  extends  'tween  man  and  man. 

And  every  finite  nature ;  between  God 

And  man,  and  every  finite  being,  fate. 

What  is  divine  is,  of  necessity,  free. 

1  heard,  and  I  received,  and  from  my  soul. 

Intense  in  quiet,  perfect  in  repose, 

Like  sleep's  fantastic  frost-work  melted  death ; 

And  entering  straight  the  heaven-surrounding  state 

Of  deifif^d  existence  among  gods. 

It  grew  ignited  with  divinity. 

Again  the  world-soul  voiced  itself,  and  I 

Drank  in  tlie  fruitful  glories  of  her  words 

As  earth  consumes  the  golden  skyey  clouds. 

Two  books  there  are  which  must  be  read ;  the  one 

Wherein  the  elements  exist  as  leaves. 

And  all  the  worlds  as  signs  and  symbols ;  thus 

Earth  is  the  symbol  of  humanity. 

Water  of  spirit,  fire  of  Deity, 

And  air  of  all  things ;  stars,  the  truths  of  Heaven. 

Water  an;^.  fire  are  elements  di^dne  ; 

Earth  and  air,  human ;  Heaven  and  the  soul 

From  one  proceed,  and  the  blue,  heated  skies ; 

Out  of  the  other,  body  and  abode. 

The  sun,  too,  symbols  spirit,  and  the  moon 

46  BB 


31)2  FESTUS. 

Soul,  and  the  earth  life-essence  through  all  space 

And  agents  of  destruction,  like  the  flood, 

Presign  regeneration ;  also  flre. 

This  present  is  the  result  of  what  is  past 

And  coming,  but  the  temporal  present  only ; 

The  eternal  present  is  before  both  past 

And  future,  and  posterior  to  them  both : 

And  these  are  verified  in  the  Eterne, 

In  act  as  in  religion ;  thus  in  man ; 

Judgment  is  life,  and  memory  like  death. 

Imagination,  immortality. 

The  actual  and  ideal  meet  but  once. 

Where  pure  impossibilities  are  facts. 

Judge  doubtful  things  by  certainest,  and  dark 

By  what  is  clear,  and  dangerous  by  safe ; 

And  prophesy  of  God  to  all  which  live. 

And  aboriginal  Heaven.     And  of  the  soul, 

The  other  tome  I  spake  of,  believe  thou. 

Body  surrounds  the  human  soul  as  in 

Divine  nature,  which  is  its  contrary, 

God's  infinite  spirit  bounds  the  universe. 

For  Thy  creation,  although  infinite, 

Is  infinitely  less  than  Thee,  O  God! 

Thine  is  the  spirit,  and  the  soul  is  Thine, 

And  all  the  thousand  instincts  of  the  heart 

The  universe  is  simple  ;  God  and  I, 

Cause  and  effect,  are  all  that  in  it  is; 

And  more  ;  for  Cause  containeth  its  effect. 

Cause,  operation,  and  effect  are  God, 


K EST us.  363 

Nature,  and  man :  which  both  partake  of  one. 

Through  error  human  souls  accept  the  truth, 

As  through  distorting  air,  the  light  whereby 

They  live,  of  sun  or  star ;   and  thus  through  dme. 

And  ceaseless  as  the  pulsings  of  the  blood, 

The  inspiration  of  the  spirit  acts 

In  one  or  other's  bosom.     Through  the  world 

The  soul  receives  God,  but  from  God,  the  soul 

Receives  the  spirit ;  thus  the  chosen,  thus  the  world  ; 

The  cloud-led  many,  the  star-guided  wise ; 

For  spirit  makes  all  time  and  nature  clear. 

As  of  old  water  purified  by  fire. 

Methought  I  answered  as  it  might  be,  thus : 

Life,  like  a  floating  islajid,  comes  and  goes, 

We  know  not,  mean  not  how.     From  Heaven  to  Earth 

A  star  falls,  and  we  track  a  cold  dark  mass 

Of  trembling,  half-transparent  somethingness, 

Which  is,  in  our  conception,  as  unlike 

All  astral  issue  and  celestial  birth 

As  wind  is  unlike  wisdom  ;  thunder,  snow. 

We  know  not  that  we  are,  nor  how,  nor  why. 

The  distance  between  finite,  howsoe'er 

Great,  and  the  infinite,  is  infinite. 

Our  life  is  incomplete  and  sectional ; 

And  the  large  unity  of  all  Ave  seek 

In  vain  to  realize ;  yet  much  we  strive ; 

And  every  ideal  of  union. 

Which  youth  makes  to  itself,  is  beautiful. 

Or  blissful,  mostly.     Still,  through  every  sign, 


364  FESTUS. 

From  morn,  all  musical,  to  blank-starred  night. 

Death's  wolflike  shadow  haunts  the  vital  orb; 

With  spectral  darkness,  and  eclipse  of  life. 

Freezing  the  fiery  marrow  of  the  world. 

"While  yet  these  words  were  vibrant  on  my  tongue, 

I  saw  the  sun-god  stall  his  flaming  steeds 

In  customary  splendor  ;  which,  in  turn, 

Shaking  their  lightning  trappings  ofl"  to  earth, 

And,  snatching  a  few  golden  grains  of  sleep. 

Solaced  them  with  their  corner  in  the  west; 

Towards  where  earth  uplifts  her  crystal  crown. 

White  with  all  yeared  snows  and  radiant  rime ; 

While  ever  and  again  the  dancing  morn, 

E'en  in  the  mid  abyss  of  solar  night. 

With  roseate  blaze  impowers  the  shining  skies, 

And  pure,  prismatic  fire,  that  lights  the  stars. 

Stretching  her  hand  into  the  nebulous  depths 

Of  everlasting  space,  again  the  spirit  spake. 

As  the  etherial  essence  of  the  world, 

Whereof  all  matter  is  mere  increment, 

Speak  I  in  truth  to  thee;  and  now  of  earth;  — 

For  as  there  is  one  Father  of  all  things. 

And  as  of  spirit  is  all  action  born. 

So  of  one  substance  is  all  nature  made. 

Regard  not  earth  as  the  whole  universe. 

Nor  minify  the  orb  into  a  point 

Where  all  relations  vanish.     Earth  receives, 

In  an  immortal  influence,  and  gives  back, 

Out  of  her  bright  and  generative  heart. 


FESTUS.  060 

To  all  that  is  therein  conceived,  and  born 

Of  her  exuberant  bosom  inwardly, 

The  vital  virtues  of  the  potent  Heavens ; 

Backwards  and  forwards  passing,  night  and  day, 

With  an  invisible  radiance  filling  up 

The  interstitial  skies.     To  all  the  forms 

Of  plant,  iish,  brute,  bird,  insect,  and  the  lives 

Insensible  and  unconceived,  which  were, 

One  time,  as  living  continents,  whereof 

The  elemental  matter  of  the  world 

Is  mainly  made,  so  that  men  live  on  life  — 

Round  to  tyrannic  man,  whose  soul's  componed 

Of  diverse  powers  and  passions.  He  who  made 

Out  of  life's  infinite  estate  doth  give 

To  all  these  forms  renewal  in  the  mass 

Ceaseless ;  to  man  alone  a  personal 

Regeneration ;  for  as  true  as  'tis 

That  all  are  generated,  so  like  surely 

All  are  to  be  regenerated;  all 

Differ  among  each  other  in  degree. 

Of  beauty,  eminence,  vitality  ; 

The  individuals  of  each  species,  too. 

Among  themselves.     If  some  excel,  the  rest 

Suffer  not  therefore.     Wrong  to  none  is  wrought 

By  honor  to  a  high,  peculiar  few, 

Self-meritless,  whose  whole  position  stands 

Ingenerable  by  themselves.     Exists 

This  class  eclect  in  all  things ;  best  in  man ; 

In  whom  the  motional  music  of  the  Heavens, 


3CC  FESTUS. 

The  elemental  workings  of  the  world, 

Upward  and  downward,  circular  and  plane, 

The  spirit  pure  impassable  of  fire, 

Are  symbolled  all  in  sunlike  excellence. 

Behold!  the  spirit  said,  and  I  beheld 

Earth,  the  horizon  black  with  numberless 

Men,  and  a  mountainous  altar  high  amidst, 

Shaped  like  a  vast  inverted  pyramid. 

Whereby  four  forms  stood ;  one  arrayed  in  white. 

And  one  in  uniformal  black;  in  green 

The  third,  and  of  all  hues  the  fourth.     And  most 

I  marked  at  first  the  two  first  named.     All  bliss 

Each  claimed  as  his  alone,  denouncing  one 

The  other: — both  all  warning  that  fierce  fire 

Burnt  for  their  sake  who  sware  not  by  a  creed 

Garbled,  patched  up,  and  contradictory ; 

Confounding  text  and  comment,  with  no  rule 

Interpretative ;    now  as  literal. 

Now  figurative,  holding  laws  like  plain. 

Which,  where  most  true,  impracticable  were, 

Where  possible,  intolerable.     Love 

Nathless,  they  said,  this  pair,  from  first  to  last. 

Being  its  Author's  nature,  infinite 

Love  to  a  mortal  creature,  the  sole  cause 

Which  prompted  God  to  sacrifice  His  Son, 

In  order  that  like  infinite  return 

Of  glory  and  of  blessing  might  accrue 

To  the  enfranchised  universe ;  their  creeds 

And  deeds  as  arctic  from  antarctic  wide. 


FESTUS.  867 

At  either  side  they  stood  and  pressed  the  world. 

And  prayed  right  earnestly  and  honestly 

x\ll  men  to  serve  God  and  obey  the  law, 

Accept  of  Heaven's  free  grace,  and  something  do 

To  help  God  in  the  saving  of  their  souls. 

And  myriads  sought  their  several  priestly  sides 

And  did  as  was  enjoined  them,  and  rejoiced. 

Then  something  passed  between  them  and  the  twain 

Ceasing  opponent  duarchy  atoned, 

In  friendship  for  past  enmity,  and  straight 

Culling  all  contraries  from  holy  grounds, 

Built  up  an  idol  of  all  elements 

Most  disaccordant.     Thus  his  deathly  feet 

They  framed  of  fire,  of  earth  his  lower  limbs, 

His  upper  part  of  water,  his  head,  air  ; 

And  throned  him  on  the  broad  and  upturned  base 

Of  that  earth-piercing  altar-pyramid. 

And  round  about  him  last  a  fane  they  reared, 

To  which  all  earth  in  divers  modes  gave  aid ; 

A  circular  temple-patent  to  the  sun, 

Sea-lavered,  mountain-columned,  kingdom-paved.     . 

When,  as  he  sat  his  throne,  there  rose  a  shout 

From  the  foregathered  multitudes,  which  caused 

The  circumspatial  skies  shake,  cold  with  dread, 

And  earth  revibrate  to  her  inmost  base. 

In  his  right  hand  he  held  the  sun  and  moon, 

And  in  his  left,  a  winged  orb,  cross-crowned  ; 

Bare  by  his  side  hung  down  a  sword  of  fire, 

Curved  comet-wise.     A  rosary  of  stars 


368  FESTUS. 

Decked  either  wrist.     With  stars  his  breast  was  mailed 
Like  to  a  knight's  of  old,  with  scales  steel-gilt. 
Or  like  an  ice  plant,  with  perpetual  dew. 
Or  diamond  beetle  round  beglobed  with  light. 
And  the  un sphered  skies  darkened  momently. 
To  him  was  brought  the  world,  bound  hand  and  foot. 
Which  more  intently  worshipped  than  the  poor, 
Bewildered  devotee  of  Eastern  lands, 
Whose  idol  car- wheels  roll  through  human  dust, 
His  golden,  squatting  demons  diamond-eyed. 
Round  that  great  altar  thousand  lesser  were. 
Each  one  enringed  with  crowds.     The  monarch,  there 
Upon  that  central  shrine  where  sat  the  god, 
Laid  down  his  crown ;   the  warrior  cast  his  sword. 
The  peer  his  glittering  badge,  the  merchant-prince 
His  hoarded  coffer.     There  the  statesman  placed 
His  seal  of  power,  the  priest  his  robe,  the  bard 
And  the  harmonious  master,  lyre  and  pen :  — 
Who  soar  or  mine,  in  science  or  in  art. 
Their  elements,  and  implements,  and  gifts  ; 
The  scribe,  and  the  physician,  and  the  wright. 
His  several  offering.     Thither  hied   the  crowds 
Of  mediate  millions,  between  gain  and  toil ; 
Thither  the  brawny-armed  and  brown-browed  hind, 
Whose  wealth  was  in  his  will  and  daily  work. 
Repaired,  and  earth's  luxurious,  toilless  tribes 
Followed,  with  each  their  hands  full  of  good  things, 
And  felt  their  conscience  lightened ;  blessed  their  lot. 
And  all  went  well  and  ended  happily. 


FESTUS.  369 

Those  minor  altars,  where  the  hate  and  scorn 
Of  the  majestic  pair  who  served  the  highest, 
And  sware  athwart  the  cross  to  make  all  souls 
Believe  alike  in  clockwork-like  content. 
Yet  might  they  not.     The  many  most  succeed, 
The  great  few  fail ;   and  among  those  few,  these. 
Each  leader  held  within  his  hand  and  read 
Choice  scraps  to  those  about  him,  from  the  book 
Whose  words  are  volumes,  and  whose  laws  are  lif? 
To  spiritual  reason  only.     Hence 
A  countless  train  of  misbeliefs  arose 
Like  pure  parhelia,  high  -above  all  power 
Of  man  or  priest  to  hinder  or  destroy. 
Some  of  belief  thought  most ;  of  practice,  some. 
Some  thought  of  God  as  darkness,  some  as  light  ; 
And  worshipped  each  ;  some  held  that  space  was  God 
While  others  said,  and  wisely,  God  is,  what  ] 
Some  held  that  God,  and  all  the  heavenly  powders, 
As  with  the  starry  panarchy  of  space. 
Were  of  one  essence,  like  divine  and  high  ; 
Some  that  the  Word  and  Holy  Spirit  were 
Deiiic  functions  only  of  one  God: 
He  who  in  Heaven  was  Father,  was  on  Earth 
Born  as  the  Son,  and,  in  the  chosen  twelve. 
Spake  him  as  tongued  fire  ;  conceiting  thus : 
God  as  the  sun.  His  word  our  Lord,  its  light, 
x\nd  its  all-comforting  heat,  the  Holy  Ghost. 
Some  deemed  that  He,  the  all-existent  One, 
Revolving  all  things  orblike  in  Himself, 

47 


370  FESTUS. 

And  future  fates,  abyss  within  abyss, 

Through  endless  ages,  hit  at  last  on  man 

As  the  consummate  accident  of  time, 

And  everlasting  bubble,  to  whom  were 

Nought  necessary,  save  necessity. 

Some  that  in  mystical  quaternity 

All  Deity  existed ;  and  the  first 

Ycleped  Ineffable,  and  the  last,  Truth; 

Father  and  Son,  gods  intermediate.  V 

These  deemed  that  wholly  contemplating  God 

The  soul,  suffused  in  Deity,  required 

No  active  virtue,  but  on  God's  own  breast 

Lay  lulled  in  glory,  and  in  unitive 

Life  with  divinity,  its  end  fulfilled, 

Inordinately  happy.     Some  maintained, 

That  it  was  necessary  to  believe 

That  whatsoe'er  is  done  by  men,  is  done 

By  God's  Spirit ;  and  thence  conclude  no  sin 

Exists,  unless  to  those  who  think  it  such  ; 

And  that  to  live  without  all  doubt  or  dread, 

Were  to  restore  to  life  the  paradise 

Initiate  of  the  soul  —  that  pleasant  place. 

Erst  deafforested  —  and  realize 

The  catholic  salvation  of  the  world. 

Some  held  that,  now  and  then,  there  speaks  in  all 

The  word  of  God,  His  light  enlightening  all, 

If  not  resisted  carnally.     Some  judged 

The  (»vil  of  sin  and  punishment,  alike 

Ileflected  on  divine  rule,  if  eterne ; 


FESTUS.  371 

And  some  believed,  despite  all  threats  of  fire, 

Here  and  hereafter,  that  the  soul,  ere  yet 

Clad  with  the  body,  had  forelived  in  Heaven, 

A  holy  creature ;  but  that,  sinning,  earth 

Was  its  amercement  made,  its  prison  flesh  ; 

From  which  emerging,  it  shall  gather  back 

Its  preexistence,  and  by  grace  resume 

The  heavenly  powers  belonging  it;  in  dreams, 

They  said,  dim  glimpses  come  of  blessed  states, 

And  shado wings  of  power,  which  to  the  soul 

Seem  inborn  and  accustomed  as  a  star. 

When  first  immersed  in  light  it  leaves  the  sun. 

Some  held,  and  erred,  that  makers  there  were  twain  ; 

One  good,  one  evil;  that  the  soul  was  made 

By  the  good  Lord,  the  body  by  the  bad. 

And  sin  was  fleshly ;  that  the  Lord  of  Life 

Lived  in  the  sun,  the  Holy  Spirit,  air. 

Wisdom,  the  moon,  the  Father  the  abyss 

Of  light  inhabited ;  that  Christ  was  Eve's 

Tempter  in  Eden ;  that  baptismal  rites 

Should  be  performed  with  fire,  and  milk  and  wine 

Be  held  accursed.     Some  believed  two  souls 

In  every  man ;  celestial  this,  and  that 

Infernal,  but  expellable  by  prayer 

And  holy  habit,  fasting,  watching,  alms  ; 

Some  thought  the  Christian  world  to  reconcile, 

And  heathendom  and  Jewry,  by  a  creed 

Of  one  eternal  Father-God,  and  two 

Christs ;  one  in  Heaven,  the  other  bom  on  earth ; 


372  FESTUS. 

And  that  the  Holy  Spirit  wisdom  was, 
The  sister  of  the  Son.     Some  held  that  He 
And  Satan  were  two  lower  powers,  whom  God 
Had  pitted  'gainst  each  other  during  time  ; 
But  that  the  final  conquest  is  the  Lord's. 
Others,  that  at  His  second  coming,  Christ 
Would  give  His  saints  a  carnal  paradise; 
Nothing  in  being  vying  with  that  vast 
Impossibility.     Some  deemed  our  Lord 
Alone  was  God,  the  Father,  and  the  Spirit ; 
And  some  that  He  was  simply  best  of  men  ; 
Others,  that  Christ  was  God,  and  Jesus,  man  ; 
Believing  not  the  aforetime  unity 
Of  the  Divine  and  human.     Some  maintained 
That  each  believer  was  himself  a  Christ ; 
Some,  that  the  mortal  mother  of  our  Lord 
A  goddess  was,  and  sacrificed  to  her, 
Pre-temporal,  immortal.  *  Some  believed 
The  person  of  our  Savior,  while  on  earth, 
Was  every  where  at  once,  and  that  the  same 
At  His  ascension  settled  in  the  sun  — 
And  that  the  body  of  the  universe 
With  Him  was  coeternal.     Some,  that  Christ 
Received  His  flesh-frame  of  the  elements. 
Which,  at  His  death.  He  paid  back  to  the  world 
And  rose  to  Heaven  incorporal.     Others  deemed 
His  body  was  a  dreary  phantom,  only 
Impassable  of  pain,  or  thirst,  or  death  ; 
Making  the  love  of  God  of  no  effect. 


FESTUS.  373 

Ajid  thus  the  deicidal  tribes  made  quit; 

The  deeds  of  nations,  being  thoughts  of  God. 

Others,  that  Deity,  in  bread  and  wine, 

Made  into  consecrated  elements, 

Resided ;  round  it  some,  some  under  it ; 

As  though  the  hand  of  man  imparted  God. 

Some  thought  perfection  was  attainable 

In  this  life,  and  with  these  means  as  in  Heaven  ; 

And  that  with  man  it  rests  to  reinstate 

The  Adamic  Eden,  and  by  converse  pure. 

And  holy  life,  redeem  the  sacred  day. 

When  nature's  every  work  was  miracle; 

When  man,  and  brute,  and  angel,  all  communed 

In  happy  ease,  and  fruits  made  good  and  wise ; 

As  ere  the  immortal  seraph-serpent  stung 

Heaven's  virgin  star,  or  brake  young  nature's  seal. 

Or  left  his  lightning  trail  through  all  divine 

Traditions,  and  became  what  now  he  is. 

The  spiritual  discord  of  all  life ; 

But,  ah !   from  that  primitial  world  to  this,  — 

From  Eden  to  Chaldea,  —  what  a  change, 

From  Paradise  to  Persia !  —  Some  eschewed 

All  earth-lore,  and  would  have,  that  God  required 

Good  deeds  alone  from  men ;  some  that,  nor  law 

Nor  gospel  profited  the  human  soul ; 

That  good  works  furthered  not,  ill  hindered  not 

Salvation ;  but  pure  faith  alone  sufficed  ;  — 

Others,  that  neither  worship,  work,  nor  faith 

Was  requisite ;  that  war  and  sociality 


374  F  EST  us. 

Were  equal  evils,  and  that  marriage  was 

Nor  type,  nor  bond,  nor  good,  but  simple  sin. 

Some  said  all  deadly  sin  was  past  church  power 

To  pardon,  even  on  due  penitence ; 

-\nd  that  the  blessed  twelve  could  never  hope 

Of  aught  but  venial  sins  to  be  released, 

Even  of  God  Himself     And  two  there  were 

Of  mortal  men,  who  deemed  that  they,  the  last 

God-witnesses  on  earth,  could  save  or  damn 

Whome'er  they  willed ;   false  birth  of  falsity  ! 

Conformably  to  fate  they  lived  and  died, 

Their  souls  absorpt  of  darkness,  brides  of  death ; 

For,  over  all,  death  works  his  hellish  will. 

Some  thought  the  gates  of  Heaven  were  sealed  to  al] 

Until  the  great  re-rising ;   some,  that  the  world 

Was  made  by  angels  only,  and  not  by  God, 

Who  would  not,  with  aught  earthly,  soil  His  hand. 

Some  in  annihilation  placed  their  hope. 

Wherein  to  be  absorbed  was  bliss  thrice  blest, 

And  deified  the  devil  in  their  hearts 

In  dreams  of  everlasting  nothingness. 

Some  thought  a  kind  indiiference  towards  aught 

^^^hich  haps  in  this  life,  and  full  consciousness 

Of  blest  necessity  in  every  act. 

And  cliarity  in  all  opined  of  man, 

Made  true  religion  and  philosophy. 

Some  grains  of  truth-gold,  some  few  lines  of  life, 

Starring  the  vast  formations  of  the  false ; 

And  for  thus  meddling  with  these  mvsteries. 


FESTUS.  375 

Unmeant  by  Heaven  to  be  cleared  up  on  earth ;  — 
Out-taking  those  who  have  eyes  trained  to  see, 
Nor  all  its  scriptural  darknesses  illumed, 
Those  twin-compellers  of  conformity. 
Erst  marked,  condemned,  from  time  to  time,   to  hell. 
Rack,  massacre,  and  fire,  each  bubble  sect 
Which  rose  in  full-blown  emptiness  to  show 
Their  own  familiar  charity,  and  prove 
The  inspiration  which  they  claim  of  God, 
Who  tells  all  He  is  Love.     Those  sects  themselves. 
Full  of  molecular  motion,  fought  like  mites 
Which  fill  a  water-drop,  and  day  by  day 
Consumed  or  cursed  each  other.     For  the  rest, 
Who  stood  round  the  great  altar  saying  creeds,  — 
And  each  had  his  dissenting  heretics, — 
The  third  one  simply  smote  by  the  sword-edge 
All  who  dared  doubt  his  darkly  checkered  tale, 
Which  was  nor  very  truth,  nor  very  lie. 
But  hung  suspended  between  Heaven  and  Earth, 
Baseless  as  utter  void.     The  fourth  was  meek 
In  mood,  as  ignorant  as  tolerant; 
Though  every  now  and  then  he  closed  his  eyes, 
And  rose,  and  slew  promiscuously  round. 
The  various  modes  of  practice  next  I  marked. 
Wherein  devoutest  trust  is  ofttimes  placed 
Among  mankind,  and  much  my  mind  w^as  moved; 
And  my  soul  sank  within  me  like  a  star 
Sea-setting,  when  it  leaves  all  Heaven  behind. 
Some     burnt,    some    drowned,    some    maimed,    some 
clammed  themselves 


376  FESTUS. 

Or  others,  all  in  proof  of  piety; 

Some  sacrificed  their  children,  some  their  sires, 

Some  fruits,  some  flowers,  beasts   and   the   young  of 

beasts. 
In  honest,  obstinate  hope  of  earning  Heaven: 
Others  heaped  stone  on  stone,  and  shrine  on  shrine, 
To  mock  the  span  of  Heaven  and  the  stars  ; 
Silver  inlaid  with  gold,  gold  decked  with  gem; 
Others  dug  out  the  earth  and  worshipped  fumes, 
And  paid  respect  to  vapors,  which,  inhaled. 
Bred  holy  inspiration.     Some,  in  warm 
And  reeking  entrails,  read  the  signs  of  God, 
Or  deemed  they  did,  prophetic.     Others,  sun 
And  moon,  and  stars,  or  fixed,  or  wandering. 
Adored,  in  the  belief  that  through  them  came 
Vast  spiritual  inflow :  earthborn  fire 
Or  sunborn,  rivers,  mountains,  seas,  stones,  herbs 
Brute,  insect,  fish,  bird,  earth,  and  air,  and  man, 
All  these  were  sworn  by,  prayed  to,  in  the  wild. 
Sad  faith,  that  man's  humanity  by  them 
Could  gain  some  earnest  of  divinity. 
Some  only  ate  of  certain  meats,  or  laid 
Under  dread  ban  all  flesh,  and  milk,  and  wine. 
Extolling  green  food  and  the  sparkling  spring ; 
As  though  brutes  only  spiritually  lived, 
And  virtue  were  a  vegetable  thing. 
Some  ate  and  drank,  at  stated  intervals. 
Or  more  or  less,  a  certain  something,  which. 
If  what  they  say,  we  wrong  the  cannibals ; 


FESTUS.  377 

While  others  fasted  forty  days  a  year, 

Prayed  fifty  times  a  day,  or  in  the  face 

Of  babes  cold  water  plashed,  wherewith,  past  doubt, 

That  generation  was  much  edified, 

And  the  original  sin-burnt  soul  well  cooled. 

Others  wore  iron  spikes  around  their  waists. 

Burnt  fire  in  their  bosoms;  with  their  bread 

Mixed  dust  and  filth,  ate  grass,  and  naked  lived  ; 

Or  crawled,  for  leagues,  like  serpents  in  the  dust. 

In  sign  of  self-abasement.     Base,  indeed. 

Such  writhings,  to  propitiate  our  God, 

In  whom  was  perfected  all  sacrifice. 

All  penalty,  all  humblement,  all  death  ; 

He  who  was  God  in  Heaven  ere  man  on  earth, 

Who  left  His  universal  work  complete, 

The  spiritual  as  the  natural ; 

When,  at  His  bright  ascent  to  Heaven,  He  gave 

A  second  Sabbath  to  the  universe ; 

Who  of  His  own  free  will  gives  life  to  all. 

And  once,  too,  of  His  own  free  choice,  chose  death., 

That  all  might  of  necessity  be  free ; 

Turning  humanity  into  deity. 

As  water  into  wine,  and  saved  the  whole. 

These  things  are  true  of  all,  some  few  except. 

Versed  in  the  ways  of  Heaven  as  are  the  stars, 

Who,  through  all  time,  have  trusted  nought  but  God ; 

Whose  seats  are  on  the  mounts  of  Paradise, 

Hewn  out  of  living  rock,  though  here  they  feel 

The  flat  deformity  of  creature  life. 

48  FF* 


878  FESTUS. 

Once  more  I  looked  around,  and  hour  by  hour 

The  multitudes  departed,  yet  increased ; 

But  one  way  came  they,  countless  ways  they  went ; 

Through  age,  birth,  pestilence,  vice,  folly,  war, 

Disease,  excess,  woe,  famine,  sin,  and  fate ; 

And  as  I  gazed,  priest,  altar,  crowd,  and  god 

Vanished,  and  were  no  more.     On  earth's  bright  head 

The  dew  of  morn  and  even  fell  as  wont. 

The  tear  of  sorrow  and  the  tear  of  joy. 

Behold,  now.  Heaven !  the  Spirit  said,  and  I 

One  vast  and  universal  Heaven  beheld; 

God's  universal  and  perpetual  smile. 

Which,  harmonizing  all  things,  all  o'erspreads. 

There  every  thing  hath  life,  the  elements 

All  vitalized,  and  glorified,  and  named 

Love,  wisdom,  strength,  and  beauty,  and  all  hues 

Which  nature  owns,  from  earth's  original  blush 

To  Heaven's  eternal  azure,  hallowed  are ; 

While  winds  all  musical,  and  odorous 

Like  breath  of  Deity,  in  sentient  clouds, 

The  delicate  chariots  of  journeying  souls. 

Issue  their  fruitful  blessings  round  the  skies. 

There  all-exalting  joys  abide ;  there  flow 

The  fountains  of  eternal  life,  and  streams 

Of  perfect  virtue  for  soul-baptism ; 

Tliere  roll  the  wide  abysmal  mysteries. 

Yet  luminous  with  life;  there  grow  the  groves, 

Whose  trees  of  golden  boles  and  pearly  fruits. 

Wind-moved  forth,  utter  all  harmonious  praise. 


FESTUS.  379 

Cities  and  fanes  of  diamond  crown  the  hills, 

Bright  with  the  sole  companionship  of  Heaven, 

Of  this  preearthly  paradise ;  wherein 

Who  enter  are  by  kindest  angels  clad 

In  garments  wrought  of  rainbows,  and  in  robes 

Woven  of  sunset  clouds  ;  while  viny  wreaths, 

Gemberries  bearing,  form  their  coronals, 

Exuberant  of  all  fruitage.     Food  they  need  not. 

Who  live  on  life  and  quaff  eternal  joy, 

And  rest  in  peace  as  in  the  down  of  doves. 

There  many  pass  all  time,  the  hour  of  God, 

In  pure  and  whole  contentment.     Others,  still. 

In  ceaseless,  boundless  progress,  as  from  star 

To  star,  from  bliss  to  bliss,  pass,  until  all 

Return  to  God  renewed,  like  rays  of  light. 

The  all-attractive  and  delightful  light. 

Redeemed  up  to  the  sun.     In  one  band  there, 

Jew,  Christian,  Moslem,  Heathen,  gracious  live 

In  mutual  forgiveness,  blessing  each 

The  other;  w^hat,  too,  in  their  several  creeds 

Is  proven  false,  each  casts  away,  what  true. 

All  keep  uniting  and  amending ;   for 

In  all  was  truth,  though  thrice  the  truth  in  one. 

As  to  the  sleepless  eye,  form  forth  at  last 

The  long,  immeasurable  layers  of  light. 

And  beams  of  fire  enormous  in  the  East, 

The  broad  foundations  of  the  Heaven-domed  day, 

All  fineless  as  the  future,  so  uprose 

On  mine  the  great  celestial  certainty. 


380  FESTUS. 

The  mask  of  matter  fell  off.     I  beheld, 

Void  of  all  seeming,  the  sole  substance,  mind, 

The  actual  ideal  of  the  world. 

An  absolutest  essence  filled  my  soul, 

And,  superseding  all  its  modes  and  powers, 

Gave  to  the  spirit  consciousness  divine ; 

A  sense  of  vast  existence  in  the  skies. 

Boundless  commune  with  spiritual  light, 

And  ultimate  eternity  of  Heaven. 

And  I  returned  mine  hungry  eyes  to  the  light 

Of  the  great  Spirit's  eyes,  which,  past  the  first 

Intensifying  blindness,  clearlier  saw 

The  words  she  uttered  of  triumphant  truth ; 

For,  truly  as  my  vision  heightened,  lo  ! 

The  universal  volume  of  the  Heavens, 

Star-lettered  in  celestial  characters. 

Moved  musically  into  worlds  like  these. 

Which  her  breath  framed,  and  varied  momently; 

And  I  perceived  that  thus  she  spake  of  God :  — 

God  is  the  sole  and  self-existent,  one 

Superessential  being,  of  whom  was 

He  who  is  with  the  Father  coeterne. 

The  first  and  last  of  being ;  and  of  both 

The  Spirit,  and  these  all  are  one  and  same 

In  Godhood,  yet  distinct  in  Deity. 

From  the  Son's  hand  came  all  things  visible. 

And  from  the  Spirit,  all  invisible; 

Forth-flowing  from,  and  ebbing  back  to  Him, 

Creation's  God,  regeneration's  Lord. 


FESTUS.  'l^ 

Man's  Savior  must  be  God;  and  such  was  Chris L. 

The  Father  of  the  faithful,  and  the  first 

Of  men  was  each  in  Him  retyped ;  and  thus 

The  chosen  and  the  world  are  blessed  both. 

And  all  effect  commensurate  with  its  cause, 

Each  infinite.  Creation  stands  redeemed 

By  Him,  first,  last,  and  mediate,  God  with  man. 

Full  in  the  bosom  of  humanity, 

As  on  the  w^aters  of  the  unborn  world, 

The  spirit  God  came  down,  uniting  thus 

The  mortal  and  eternal  in  the  word 

'Foreuttered  ere  all  ages,  blessing  all. 

This  is  the  legend  which  surrounds  the  world, 

Though  the  best  part  be  nigh  obliterate. 

Men  are  of  one  kind,  therefore,  and  two  sorts. 

Irrelative,  as  in  mortality; 

United  only  in  the  spirit  state. 

With  each  is  imperfection,  but  to  these 

Comes  by  God's  grace  one  elemental  shock 

To  fuse  the  ruinous  chaos  wrought  by  sin. 

And  nature  make  communicant  of  Heaven. 

Both  gain  the  end  so  sought,  and  must;  but  those 

Labor  along  with  wheels,  while  these  have  wings. 

To  these,  God  gives  His  spirit ;  while,  for  all, 

The  Son  laid  down  the  Heavens  as  a  crown, 

And  clothed  Himself  in  clay ;   thus  taking  up 

Of  all  the  nature,  that  all  might  in  Him 

Be  one ;  and  full  and  holy  equalness 

Belong  humanity  as  angelhood. 


382  FESTUS. 

Of  glory  varied,  level  all  in  bliss. 

The  nations  all  which  die  to  be  redeemed 

Shall  find  desire  unite  with  destiny. 

And  for  the  chosen,  'tis  enough  to  know ; 

God  knoweth  all  whom  He  doth  choose  and  save ; 

And   they   know   that   He   knows.      Though   all   the 

powers 
Of  air  array  themselves  in  lines  of  fire, 
And  arm  them  with  the  armory  of  death ; 
Though  all  the  hosts  of  hell  encamp  them  round, 
High  as  the  tented  mountains  of  the  earth, 
Yet,  at  a  wave  of  His  hand,  like  to  slaves. 
They  vanish  from  the  assiegement  of  the  saints. 
Transition  is,  to  all  which  live,  life's  law  ; 
To  some  of  dowuAvard  and  deterior  lot ; 
The  soul  subdued  to  superstition  sinks  — 
To  some,  the  link  of  supramundane  bliss, 
Whose  souls  are  dominations  incarnate, 
Yea,  sons  of  stars,  which,  darting  out  of  Heaven, 
Made  themselves  mortal  for  the  mother's  sake ; 
Who  with  original  motion  fling  off  truths. 
Of  perfect  light,  oracular  of  God, 
Which,  in  their  minds,  who  worthily  receive, 
Are  full  of  inborn  virtue  more  than  known, 
Accompletive  of  destiny  divine. 
And,  like  the  luminous  rudiments  of  Heaven, 
Which  gradually  gravitate  to  worlds. 
Corroborate  their  nature  and  make  free 
Their  souls  to  course  through  the  blank  void  of  time 


FESTus.  :^S;j 

To  the  bright  fulness  of  eternity. 
O'er  all  extends  God's  love ;  for  greater  need 
Is  that  the  base  or  ignorant  soul  should  rise, 
And  be  made  noble,  wise,  blest,  than  slave  on 
In  hell,  through  burning  ages,  to  adjust 
The  balance  sin  on  earth  had  wronged;  for  sin, 
Irreconcilable  to  Deity, 
Yet  unavoidable  to  human  soul, 
And,  wherefore.  He  hath  absolutely  made 
His  own  hands  answerable,  shall  become 
The  contrary  of  all  things,  and  not  be. 
These  are  the  great  initials  of  the  world: 
Being  is  one,  the  central,  infinite  cause, 
Common  to  both  creator  and  create. 
The  great  substratum  of  the  universe : 
Knowing  and  doing,  and  the  fact  of  form 
The  coexistent  laws  of  one  extreme, 
The  other  all  imbounding  and  alone. 
From  one  divine,  all  permeant  unity. 
Proceeds  the  multitudinous  infinite. 
Mental,  material,  and  essential  —  God, 
In  justice  to  Himself  and  love  to  all, 
Basing  in  elemental  equalness 

The  whole  on  grace  ;  thus  earth  and  moon  were  made 
Like  syllables  of  light,  uttered  of  God; 
The  earth  conceived  in  music,  and  the  moon, 
Lady  of  all  the  orbed  deities, 

Like   her   who  wears    in    Heaven    the    twelve-starred 
crown, 


•^84  F  EST  us. 

And  with  all  creatures  blest  of  God  ;  who,  with 

A  sevenfold  blessing  and  inviolate  rest, 

Yea,  with  His  Sabbath,  sealed  the  perfect  world, 

Making  it  over  to  eternity. 

And  angel  musings ;  the  bright  universe. 

The  double- tabled  book  of  Heaven  and  Earth, 

Despite  all,  due  deficiency  and  sin, 

Which  in  all  souls  inhere  till  God  assumes, 

Progressing  aye,  possessing,  too,  all  bliss 

Elect  and  universal  in  the  Heavens. 

From  God,  the  ^un-creator,  nature  was. 

Ethereal  essences,  all  elements, 

And  souls  therein  indigenous,  and  man 

Symbolic  of  all  being.     Out  of  earth 

The  matron  moon  was  moulded,  and  the  sea 

Filled  up  the  shining  chasm.     Both  fulfil 

One  orbit,  and  one  nature,  and  all  orbs 

With  them,  one  fate,  one  universal  end. 

From  the  projective  moment  of  all  light 

The  moon  was  in  the  sun,  and  in  the  sun 

The  form  of  earth  was,  and  the  sun  in  Heaven 

The  incarnation  of  the  fiery  skies. 

And  when  in  earth  the  sun  and  moon  make  one, 

Nature  is  glorified,  and  enters  Heaven. 

The  spirit  bursts  its  immaterial  shell 

And  form  impalpable,  regaining  thus 

The  vast  vacuity  which  fills  all  life, 

And  wherein  dwells  the  incommunicable. 

Again  tlie  Spirit,  as  a  gale  of  light. 


FESTUS.  385 

Whose  words,  like  cloudless  thunder,  wrought  in  me 

Meet  apperception  of  the  sum  of  things. 

The  natural  creation  ended  first, 

Commenced  the  spiritual,  which  in  God 

Aforehand  lived;  thus  time  unfolds  the  seed 

Sown  in  eternity  and  reaped  therein ; 

The  great  paternal  and  invisible  fire, 

AVhich  eateth  that  it  issueth,  and  wherein 

All  filiated  nature  ceaseth  work ; 

Being  an  infinite  means  as  well  as  end. 

Thy  name,  O  Immortality,  to  man 

Sounds  clear,  essential  music ;  through  the  soul 

Thrilling,  as  through  the  heartstrings  of  a  star 

Its  tidal  pulses  and  dim  throbs  of  light 

Ere  fraternized  in  Heaven  ;  yea,  round  that  hope, 

So  vast,  yet  vague,  which,  like  the  northern  morn, 

One  hour  usurps  the  midsky,  and  the  next 

Lies  buried  'neath  the  pole,  are  gathered  thoughts 

And  truths,  which,  with  their  weight,  determine  life ; 

As  motion  in  an  atom  leads  at  last 

To  a  world's  orbit  —  mote  and  motion  given. 

For  the  exalted  Spirit,  prepared  with  power, 

Sublimes  and  fuses  in  itself  all  else ; 

And  thus,  self-conscious  of  its  inner  life, 

Makes  all  externals  subject,  and  maintains 

That  rule  o'er  thoughts  and  things,  which  in  itself 

Is  present  proof  of  what  the  world  most  seeks, 

The  boundless  union  of  the  soul  with  God. 

NoAv  matter  makes  not  one  continuous  orb, 

4^  GO 


386  FESTUS. 

Nor  is  light  ail-where  massed  alike.     The  stars 

Perradiated  each  like  thunderbolts 

Stand,  clustered  into  omniformal  spheres. 

The  wise  well  know  true  union  is  in  Heaven 

And  pure  totality,  and  there  alone. 

Behold !  the  Spirit  said,  and  I  beheld 

A  bright,  miraculous  mystery  of  God  — 

The  divine  marriage  of  the  sun  and  moon. 

The  sun  was  flaming  high  in  Heaven ;  the  moon, 

flighty,  though  mild,  and  all  the  saintly  stars 

Softer  than  sunlight,  stronger  than  the  moon, 

Shining  at  once  in  grandeur  and  grave  bliss. 

It  was  the  world's  All-sire  gave  the  bride.     The  stars 

Were  her  immortal  bride  maidens,  and  strew^ed 

Along  the  glittering  path  she  trode  through  Heaven, 

Life-blooms,  and  wreathed  sunrays  of  all  hues. 

Deep  in  all  dayless  time,  degreeless  space. 

The  shining  fane  stood ;  and  the  angels  struck 

Their  lyres  of  light,  and  even  to  the  feet 

Of  the  Divine  Ones  bowed  them,  with  serene 

Acclaim,  afar-ofl"  hailing  them,  and  cried, 

Welcome,  thou  Lord  of  Life ;    thou  Bride  of  Light  I 

All  joy,  all  bliss  be  yours  in  Heaven  and  Earth, 

And  all  the  universal  blessers  choose. 

Choicest  of  all  the  chosen,  art  thou  here? 

Thy  love  is  more  delicious  than  the  rose; 

Yea,  purer  than  the  lily  or  the  light. 

Lord  of  the  day !  the  world  awaits  thee  now  ; 

Earth's  eyes  are  dim  with  watching  for  this  day; 


FESTUS.  381 

The  bread  is  broken,  and  the  wine  is  poured, 

And  all  the  guests  are  gathered  from  the  bounds 

Of  Heaven's  imperial  horizon  to  this 

The  bright,  palatial  centre.     All  things  serve 

The  hallowing  rite  which  nature  owns  with  God. 

jind  so  they  became  one.     In  golden  he. 

In  silver  car  came  she  down  the  blue  skies, 

But  on  return  they  clomb  the  clouds  in  one. 

And  vanished  in  their  snow.     The  marriage  feast 

Was  held  a  universal  holiday 

Throughout  the  light-lit  world  :  nor  since  have  ceased 

The  great  congratulations.     Peace  and  bliss 

Pervade  the  perfect  state,  and  all  is  love. 

Still  as  a  star,  which  overflows  with  light. 

She  stood  and  spake  intuitive  of  Heaven, 

The  world-divining  spirit,  whilom  named. 

Now  such  as  man  is  to  himself,  is  His 

Divine  idea;  but  the  God  which  is 

Is  not  the  God  men  worship,  not  alone 

Ineffable,  but  inconceivable ; 

How  shall  an  atom  comprehend  the  Heaven  ? 

Two  points  men  occupy  in  space  and  time, 

And  half  exist  of  matter  and  in  form: 

Thus,  His  existence  is  their  opposite ; 

And  all  is  either  God  or  nothingness, 

Being  with  non-being  identical. 

All  terms  are  relative  expressing  bound. 

But  Deity,  interminable  being, 

Hath  ever,  therefore,  been  unnamed;  but  men, 


388  FESTUS. 

Framed  to  exist  in  act  and  utterance, 

And  grasping  ever  at  the  love  of  God,  ' 

Strained  to  the  breast  of  silence,  breathe  His  name 

In  pious  perpetuity,  and  throw 

Off,  with  orbicular  action,  sphere  on  sphere. 

Like  circlets  of  reiterated  light 

Of  thought  on  objects,  vastest  and  divine. 

In  hope  to  know  the  great  unknowable,  \ 

The  all-prophetic,  universal  I ; 

Within  whose  ample  essence  all  man's  thought 

Respecting  it,  the  infinite  abstract 

And  limitless  negation,  whether  good 

Being,  or  life,  or  wisdom,  the  abyss. 

Silence,  or  truth,  love,  mind,  will,  intellect. 

Causer  of  causes,  all  theosophic  lore 

Of  man-born,  or  angelic  mind,  is  lost, 

Like  a  stray  wind  which  from  some  airy  height 

Soars,  suicidal,  up  the  dark  inane. 

She  ceased,  the  all-created,  gazing  down  deep 

Into  her  own  serene  and  shining  breast ; 

O'er  which  inviolate  and  sublime  abyss, 

Her  all-embracing  arms  she  crossed  in  peace. 

She  ceased,  and  all  was  silence.     Earth  and  Heaven, 

Like  solar  seas,  unfathomably  bright, 

Rolled  forth  their  inmost  radiance  in  twin  tides, 

Interminable.     Since  the  first-begotten  day. 

Until  the  last-born  eve,  when  all  shall  end. 

And  life's  great  vein  within  the  imbosoming  Heavens 

Be  utterly  dried  up;  till  night  shall  come 


FESTUS.  389 

As  some  cloud-monster  eats  up  star  on  star, 

The  children  of  the  light;  till  nevermore 

Shall  cloud  refresh  earth's  lip,  nor  breeze  her  bre.ist. 

Hath  been  beheld  such  glory,  nor  shall  be, 

Of  nature  serving  God ;    she,  sibyl-like. 

Instinct  with  inspiration,  and  He  her 

Endowing  with  all  bliss,  unendingly. 

Helen.     But  why  art  thou,  of  all  men,  favored  thus  1 
To  say  there  is  a  mystery  in  this. 
Or  aught,  is  only  to  confess  God.     Speak ! 

Festus.     It  is  God's  will  that  I  possess  this  power. 
Thus  to  attract  great  spirits  to  mine  own. 
As  steel,  magnetically  charged,  draws  steel  ; 
Himself  the  magnet  of  the  universe, 
Round  whom  all  spirits  tremble,  and  towards  whom 
All  tend. 

Helen.     If  as  thou  sayest,  it  is  good :  — 
May  it  be  an  immortal  good  to  thee. 

Festus.     There  is  no  keeping   back  the  power  we 
have. 
He  hath  no  power  who  hath  not  power  to  use. 
Some  of  these  beings  whom  I  speak  of  are 
Pure  spirits,  other  bodies  soulical; 
For  spirit  is  to  soul  as  wind  to  air. 
They  give  me  all  I  seek,  and  at  a  wish 
Would  furnish  treasures,  thrones,  or  palaces ; 
But  all  these  things  have  I  eschewed,  and  chosen 
Command  of  mind  alone,  and  of  the  world 
Unbodied  and  all-lovely. 

QQ* 


390  FESTUS. 

Helen.  Is  not  this 

Pleasure  too  much. for  mortal  to  be  good? 

Ei^sTus.     All  pleasure  is  with  Thee,  God !  elsewhere, 

none. 
Not  silver-ceiled  hall  nor  golden  throne, 
Set  thick  with  priceless    gems,  as  Heaven  with  stars, 
Or  the  high  heart  of  youth  with  its  bright  hopes ;  — 
Nor  marble,  gleaming  like  the  white  moonlight, 
As  'twere  an  apparition  of  a  palace 
Inlaid  with  light,  as  is  a  waterfall ;  — 
Not  rainbow-pinions,  colored  like  yon  cloud. 
The  sun's  broad  banner  o'er  his  evening  tent. 
Can  match  the  bright  imaginings  of  a  child 
Upon  the  glories  of  his  coming  years  ; 
How  equal,  then,  the  full-assured  faith 
Of  him  to  whom  the  Savior  hath  vouchsafed 
The  Heaven  of  His  bosom  ]     What  can  tempt 
In  its  performance  equal  to  that  promise  *? 
My  soul  stands  fast  to  Heaven  as  doth  a  star ; 
And  only  God  can  move  it,  who  moves  all. 
There  are  who  might  have  soared  to  what  I  spurned ; 
And  like  to  heavenly  orders  human  souls  ; 
Some  fitted  most  for  contemplation,  some 
For  action,  those  for  thrones,  and  these  for  wheels. 
Helen.     Tell    me  what  they  discourse  upon,  these 

angels. 
Festus.     They  speak  of  what   is   past    or  coming, 

less 
Of  present  things  or  actions.     Some  say  most 


FESTUS.  391 

About  the  future,  others  of  the  gone, 

The  dim  traditions  of  eternity, 

Or  Time's  first  golden  moments.     One  there  was  — 

From  whose  sweet  lips  elapsed  as  from  a  well, 

Continuously,  truths  which  made  my  soul. 

As  they  sank  in  it,  fertile  with  rich  thoughts  — 

Spake  to  me  oft  of  Heaven,  and  our  talk 

Was  of  divine  things  always  —  angels.  Heaven, 

Salvation,  immortality,  and  God ; 

The  different  states  of  spirits,  and  the  kinds 

Of  being  in  all  orbs,  or  physical, 

Or  intellectual.     I  never  tired 

Preferring  questions,  but  at  each  response 

My  soul  drew  back,  sealike,  into  its  depths. 

To  urge  another  charge  on  him.     This  spirit 

Came  to  me  daily  for  a  long,  long  time. 

Whene'er  I  prayed  his  presence.     Many  a  world 

He  knew  right  well,  which  man's  eye  never  yet 

Hath  marked,  nor  ever  may  mark  while  on  earth ; 

Yet  grew  his  knowledge  every  time  he  came. 

His  thoughts  all  great,  and  solemn,  and  serene, 

Like  the  immensest  features  of  an  orb, 

AVhose  eyes  are  blue  seas,  and  whose  clear,  broad  brow 

Some  cultured  continent,  came  ever  round 

From  truth  to  truth  —  day  bringing  as  they  came. 

He  was  to  me  an  all-explaining  spirit, 

Teaching  divine  things  by  analogy 

With  mortal  and  material.     Thus  of  God, 

He  showed,  as  the  three  primal  rays  make  one 


♦]92  FESTUS. 

Sole  beam  of  Light,  so  the  three  Persons  make 

One  God ;  neither  without  the  other  is. 

However  bright  or  beautiful  itself 

The  theme  he  touched,  he  made  it  more  so  by 

His  own  light,  like  a  firefly  on  a  flower. 

And  one  of  all  I  knew  the  most  of,  yet 

The  least  can  I  say  of  him ;  for  full  oft 

Our  thoughts  drown  speech,  like  to  a  foaming  force, 

Which  thunders  down  the  echo  it  creates. 

Yet  must  I  somewhat  tell  of  him.     He  was 

The  spirit-evil  of  the  universe. 

Impersonate.     Oh,  strange  and  wild  to  know! 

Perdition  and  destruction  dwelt  in  him, 

Like  to  a  pair  of  eagles  in  one  nest. 

Hollow  and  wasteful  as  a  whirlwind  was 

His  soul ;  his  heart  as  earthquake,  and  ingulfed 

World  upon  world.     In  him  they  disappeared, 

As  might  a  morsel  in  a  lion's  maw. 

The  world  which  met  him  rolled  aside  to  let  him 

Pass  on  his  piercing  path.     His  eyeballs  burned 

Revolving  lightnings,  like  a  world  on  fire ; 

Their  very  night  was  fatal,  as  the  shade 

Of  Death's  dark  valley.    And  his  space-spread  wings  — 

Wide  as  the  wings  of  darkness,  when  she  rose 

Scowling,  and  backing  upwards,  as  the  sun, 

Giant  of  light,  first  donned  his  burning  crown, 

Gladdening  all  Heaven  with  his  inaugural  smile  — 

Were  stained  with  the  blood  of  many  a  starry  world : 

Yea,  I  have  seen  him  seize  upon  an  orb. 


FESTUS.  o98 

And  cast  it,  careless,  into  vvoiidlesi:  space, 

As  I  might  cast  a  pebble  in  the  sea. 

His  might  upon  this  earth  was  wondrous,  most. 

He  stood  a  match  for  mountains.     Ocean's  depths 

He  clove  unto  their  rock-bed,  as  a  sword, 

Through  blood  and  muscle,  to  the  central  bone. 

With  one  swoop  of  his  arm.     His  brow  was  pale  — 

Pale  as  the  lifeblood  of  the  undying  worm 

Which  writhes  around  its  frame  of  vital  fire. 

Eclipse-like  fell  his  thought  upon  the  mind. 

Space-piercing  shadow  alighting  on  the  face 

Of  some  fair  planet  circling  deep  in  Heaven  ; 

Causing  it  shudder  as  an  angel  when 

He  hears  the  thunder-curse  of  demon  foe. 

His  voice  blew  like  the  desolating  gust 

Which   strips   the   trees,    and   strews    the   earth   with 

death. 
His  words  were  ever  like  a  wheel  of  fire, 
E-olling  and  burning,  —  this  way  now,  now  that : 
Now  whirling  forth  a  blinding  beam,  now  soft 
And  deep  as  Heaven's  own  luminous  blue — and  now 
Like  to  a  conqueror's  chariot  wheel  they  came. 
Sodden  with  blood  and  slow,  revolving  death : 
And  every  tone  fell  on  the  ear  and  heart 
Heavy,  and  harsh,  and  startling,  like  the  first 
Handful  of  mould  cast  on  the  coffined  dead. 
As  though  he  claimed  them  his. 

Lucifer,  entering.  Dost  recognize 

The  portrait,  ladyl 

50 


39-1  F  E  S  T  U  S . 

Helen.  Festus!  who  is  this? 

What  portrait?  — 

Festus.  Wherefore  comest  thou?     Did  I  not 

Claim  privacy  one  evening  ? 

Lucifer.  Why,  indeed  — 

I  simply  called,  as  I  was  on  my  way 
To  Jupiter  —  and  he's  a  mouthful,  mind  ;  — 
To  keep  the  proverbs,  too,  in  countenance. 
Any  commands  for  our  planetary  friends  1 
I  go.     Make  my  excuses.  \^Goes 

Festus.  A  mistake. 

Dearest ;  but  rectified.     (Apart.)     And  he  is  gone ! 
Hell  hath  its  own  again.     Some  sorrow  chills 
Ever  the  spirit,  like  a  cloudlet  nursed 
In  the  star-giant's  bosom. 

Helen.  Tell  me,  love, 

More  of  these  angels. 

Festus.  There  was  one  I  loved 

Of  those  immortals  of  a  lofty  air. 
Dimly  divine  and  sad,  and  side  by  side 
Him  whom  I  spake  of  first,  she  oft  would  stand 
With  her  fair  form  —  shadow  illummate  — 
Like  to  the  dark  moon  in  the  young  one's  arms. 
She  never  murmured  at  the  doom  which  made 
The  sorrow  that  contained  her,  as  the  air 
Infolds  the  orb  whereon  we  dw^ell,  but  spake 
Of  God's  will  alway  as  most  good  and  wise. 
She  had  but  little  pleasure ;  but  her  all, 
Such  as  it  was,  was  in  devising  plans 


FESTUS.  395 

Of  bliss  to  come,  or  in  the  tales  of  Time, 

And  the  sweet,  early  earth.     She  was,  in  truth. 

Our  earth's  own  angel.     Ofttimes  would  she  dwell 

With  long  and  luminous  sweetness  on  her  theme, 

Unwearying,  unpausing,  as  a  world. 

The  sun  would  rise  and  set ;  the  soul-like  moon, 

In  passive  beauty  and  receptive  light, — 

Absorbing  inspiration  from  the  sun. 

As  doth  from  God,  His  prophet,  ceaselessly,  — 

She,  too,  would  rise  and  set ;  and  the  far  stars. 

The  third  estate  of  Light,  complete  the  round 

Of  the  divine  day ;  —  still  our  angel  spake. 

And  still  I  listened  to  the  eloquent  tongue. 

Which,  e'en  on  earth,  retained  the  tone  of  Heaven. 

The  shadow  of  a  cloud  upon  a  lake. 

O'er  which  the  wind  hath  all  dav  held  his  breath, 

Is  not  more  calm  and  fair  than  her  dear  face  — 

So  sweetly  sad  and  so  consolingly, 

When  she  spake,  even  on  the  end  of  earth. 

Save  that  her  eye  grew  darker,  and  her  brow 

Brighter  with  thought,  as  with  galactic  light 

Mid  Heaven  when  clearest,  —  at  such  times,  not  I 

Had  known  that  earth  were  dearer  unto  her 

Than  other  of  the  visitants  divine, 

Which  hallow  oft  mine  hours;  —  save,  too,  that  then, 

As  though  to  touch  but  on  that  topic  had. 

Torpedo-like,    numbed    thought,    she    would    straight 

cease 
All  converse  suddenly,  and  kneel,  and  seem 


396  FESTUS. 

Inwardly  praying  with  much  power,  —  rise, 
And  vanish  into  Heaven.     My  mind  is  full 
Of  stories  she  hath  told  me  of  our  world. 
No  word  an  angel  utters  lose  I,  ever. 
One  I  will  tell  thee,  now. 

Helen.  Do,  let  me  hear; 

1'hy  talk  is  the  sweet  extract  of  all  speech. 
And  holds  mine  ear  in  blissful  slavery. 

Festus.     It  was  on  a  lovely  summer  afternoon, 
Close  by  the  grassy  marge  of  a  deep  tarn. 
Nigh  halfway  up  a  mountain,  that  we  stood, 
I  and  the  angel,  when  she  told  me  this. 
Above  us  rose  the  gray  rocks,  by  our  side 
Forests  of  pines,  and  the  bright,  breaking  wavelets 
Came  crowding,  dancing  to  the  brink,  like  thoughts 
Unto  our  lips.     Before  us  shone  the  sun. 
The  angel  waved  her  hand  ere  she  began. 
As  bidding  earth  be  still.     The  birds  ceased  singing, 
And  the  trees  breathing,  and  the  lake  smoothed  down 
Each  shining  wrinklet,  and  the  wind  drew  off. 
Time  leant  him  o'er  his  scythe,  and,  listening,  wept. 
The  circling  world  reined  in  her  lightning  pace 
A  moment ;  Ocean  hushed  his  snow-maned  steeds. 
And  a  cloud  hid  the  sun,  as  does  the  face 
A  meditative  hand:  then  spake  she  thus:  — 
Scarce  had  the  sweet  song  of  the  morning  stars, 
Wliich  rang  through  space  at  the  first  sign  of  life 
Our  earth  gave,  springing  from  the  lap  of  God 
On  to  her  orbit,  ended,  when  from  Heaven 


FESTUS.  897 

Came  down  a  white-winged  host ;   and  in  the  East, 

Where  Eden's  Pleasance  was,  first  furled  their  wings. 

Alighting  like  to  snowflakes.     There  they  built, 

Out  of  the  riches  of  the  soil  around, 

A  house  to  God.     There  were  the  ruby  rocks ; 

And  there,  in  blocks,  the  quarried  diamonds  lay ; 

Opal  and  emerald  mountain,  amethyst. 

Sapphire,  and  chrysoprase,  and  jacinth  stood 

With  the  still  action  of  a  star,  all  light, 

Like  sea-based  icebergs,  blinding.     These,  with  tools 

Tempered  in  Heaven,  the  band  angelic  wrought. 

And  raised,  and  fitted,  having  first  laid  down 

The  deep  foundations  of  the  holy  dome 

On  bright  and  beaten  gold;  and  all  the  while 

A  song  of  glory  hovered  round  the  work. 

Like  rainbow  round  a  fountain.     Day  and  night 

Went  on  the  hallowed  labor  till  'twas  done. 

And  yet  but  thrice  the  sun  set,  and  but  thrice 

The  moon  arose ;  so  quick  is  work  divine. 

Tower,  and  roof,  and  pinnacle  without 

Were  solid  diamond.     AVithin,  the  dome 

Was  eye-blue  sapphire,  sown  with  gold-bright  stars 

And  clustering  constellations  ;  the  wide  floor 

All  emerald,  earthlike,  veined  with  gold  and  silver, 

Marble  and  mineral  of  every  hue. 

And  marvellous  quality;  the  meanest  thing, 

AVhere  all  things  were  magnificent,  was  gold, — 

The  plainest.     The  high  altar  there  was  shaped 

Out  of  one  rubv,  heartlike.     Columned  round 


398  FESTUS. 

• 

With  alabaster  pure  was  all.     And  now, 

So  high  and  bright  it  shone  in  the  midday  light, 

It  could  be  seen  from  Heaven.     Upon  their  thrones 

The  sun-eyed  angels  hailed  it,  and  there  rose 

A  hurricane  of  blissfulness  in  Heaven, 

Which  echoed  for  a  thousand  years.     One  dark, 

One  solitary  and  foreseeing  thought, 

Passed,  like  a  planet's  transit  o'er  the  sun. 

Across  the  brow  of  God ;  but  soon  He  smiled 

Towards  earth,  and  that  smile  did  consecrate 

The  temple  to  Himself     And  they  who  built 

Bowed  themselves  down  and  worshipped  in  its  walls. 

High  on  the  front  were  w^rit  these  words  —  To  God ! 

The  heavenly  built  this  for  the  earthly  ones, 

That  in  His  worship  both  might  mix  on  earth. 

As  afterward  they  hope  to  do  in  Heaven. 

Had  man  stood  good  in  Eden,  this  had  been ; 

He  fell,  and  Eden  vanished.     The  bright  place 

Reared  by  the  angels,  of  all  precious  things. 

For  the  joint  worship  of  the  sons  of  Earth 

And  Heaven,  fell  with  him,  on  the  very  day 

lie  should  have  met  God  and  His  angels  there  — 

The  very  day  he  disobeyed  and  joined 

The  host  of  Death,  black-bannered.     Eden  fell ; 

The  groves  and  grounds,  which  God  the  Lord's  own 

feet 
Had  hallowed ;  the  all-hued  and  odorous  bowers 
Where  angels  wandered,  wishing  them  hi  Heaven; 
The  trees  of  life  and  knowledge  —  trees  of  death 


FESTUS.  399 

And  madness,  as  they  proved  to  man  —  all  fell ; 

And  that  bright  fane  fell  first.     No  death-doomed  eye 

Gazed  on  its  glory.     Earthquakes  gulped  it  down. 

The  Temple  of  the  Angels,  vast  enough 

To  hold  all  nations  worshipping  at  once. 

Lay  in  its  grave ;  the  cherubs'  flaming  swords 

The  sole,  sad  torches  of  its  funeral. 

Till  at  the  flood,  when  the  world's  giant  heart 

Burst  like  a  shell,  it  scattered  East  and  West, 

And  far  and  Avide,  among  less  noble  ruins. 

The  fragments  of  that  angel-builded  fane, 

Which  was  in  Eden,  and  of  which  all  stones 

That  now  are  precious,  were;  and  still  shall  be. 

Gathered  again  unto  a  happier  end. 

In  the  pure  City  of  the  Son  of  God, 

And  temple  yet  to  be  rebuilt  in  Zion ; 

Which,  though  once  overthrown,  and  once  agam 

Torn  down  to  its  foundations,  in  the  quick 

Of  earth,  shall,  soul-like,  yet  re-rise  from  ruin  — 

High,  holy,  happy,  stainless  as  a  star. 

Imperishable  as  eternity. 

—  The  angel  ended ;   and  the  winds,  waves,  clouds. 

The  sun,  the  woods,  and  merry  birds  went  on 

As  theretofore,  in  brightness,  strength,  and  music. 

One  scarce  could  think  that  earth  at  all  had  fallen 

To  look  upon  her  beauty.     If  the  brand 

Of  sin  were  on  her  brow,  it  was  surely  hid 

In  natural  art  from  every  eye  but  God's. 

All  things  seemed  innocence  and  happiness. 


•400  F  EST  us. 

I  was  all  thanks.     And  look!  the  angel  said, 
Take  these,  and  give  to  one  thou  lovest  best: 
Mine  own  hands  saved  from  them  the  shining  ruin 
Whereof  I  late  have  told  thee ;  and  she  gave 
What  now  are  greenly  glowing  on  thine  arms. 
Ere  I  could  answer,  she  was  up,  star-high, 
Winging  her  way  through  Heaven. 

Helen.  How  shall  I  thank  thee 

Enough,  or  that  kind  angel  who  hath  made 
The  gift  to  me  dear,  doubly?     I  shall  be 
Afraid  almost  to  wear  them,  but  would  not 
Part  with  them  for  the  treasures  of  all  worlds. 
How  show  my  thanks  1 

Festus.  Love  me  as  now,  dear  beauty ! 

Present  or  absent  always,  and  'twill  be 
More  than  enough  of  recompense  for  me. 

Helen.     Hast  met  that  angel  late- while] 

Festus.  I  have  not. 

Yet  oft,  methinks,  I  see  her  catch  a  glimpse 
Of  her  sun-circling  pinions,  or  bright  feet. 
Which  fitter  seem  for  rainbows  than  for  earth, 
Or  Heaven's  triumphal  arch,  more  firm  and  pure 
Than   the  world's   whitest   marble; — see    her    seated 

oft 
On  some  high,  snowy  cloud-cliff,  harp  in  hand, 
Singing  the  sun  to  sleep,  as  down  he  lays 
His  head  of  glory  on  the  rocking  deep: 
.\nd  so  sing  thou  to  me. 

Helen.  There,  rest  thyself     \_Si7i^s. 


FESTUS.  401 

Oh !  not  the  diamond,  starry  bright, 

Can  so  delight  my  view 
As  doth  the  moonstone's  changing  light 

And  gleamy,  glowing  hue ; 
Now  blue  as  Heaven,  and  then  anon 

As  golden  as  the  sun, 
It  hath  a  charm  in  every  change  — 

In  brightening,  darkening,  one. 

And  so  with  beauty,  so  with  love 

And  everlasting  mind. 
It  takes  a  tint  from  Heaven  above, 

And  shines  as  it's  inclined  ; 
Or  from  the  sun,  or  towards  the  sun, 

With  blind  or  brilliant  eye, 
And  only  lights  as  it  reflects 

The  life-light  of  the  sky. 

He  sleeps !     The  fate  of  many  a  gracious  moral 
This,  to  be  stranded  on  a  drowsy  ear. 


Scene  —  Home. 
Festus,  and  Helen  at  her  Piano.  —  Dusk. 

Helen.     I  cannot  live  away  from  thee.     How  can 
A  -flower  live  without  its  root  1 

Festus.  I,  too, 

Must  love,  or  die. 

^^  H  H  # 


•102  FESTUS. 

Helen.  But  I  must  have.     Attend! 

I  am  to  say  and  do  just  as  I  please; 
I  may  command  thee,  may  11  —  that  I  will. 

Festus.     I    love    to    be    enslaved.      Oh !    I    would 
rather 
Obey  thee,  beauty !    than  rule  men  by  millions. 

Helen.     Near,  as  afar,  I  will  have  love  the  same  — 
With  a  bright  sameness,  like  this  diamond, 
'S^Tiich,  wherever  the  light  be,  shines  like  bright. 
And  thou  shalt  say  all  sorts  of  pretty  things 
To  me;  mind,  to  me  only:  write  love-songs 
About  me,  and  I  will  sing  them  to  myself; 
Perhaps  to  thee,  sometime,  as  it  were  now, 
If  I  should  happen  to  be  very  kind. 

Festus.     Sing  now ! 

Helen.  No  ! 

Festus.  Tyrant!  I  will  banish  thee. 

Helen.      Nay,    if  to   sing   and    play  would   please 
thee,  I 
Would  die  to  music.     It  was  very  wrong 
To  say  I  would  deny  thee  any  thing; 
But  be  not  angry  with  me ;  for,  though  God 
Forgave  me,  I  could  ne'er  forgive  myself. 
If  I  brought  sorrow  to  thee  ;  could  I,  love  ] 

Festus.     As  thou  art  empress  of  my  bosom,  no ! 

Helen.     Nought  fear  I  but  an  unkind  word  from 
thee. 
Dark  death  may  frighten  children,  Hell  the  wretch 
Who  feels  that  he  deserves  it ;  but  for  me, 
I  know  I  cannot  do  nor  say  au<?ht  worthy 


FESTUS.  403 

Of  the  pure  pain  a  frown  of  thine  can  cause, 
Or  a  cold,  careless  look.     No !  never  frown. 
If  I  do  wrong,  forgive  me,  or  I  die ; 
And  thou  wilt  then  be  wretcheder  than  I ;  — 
The  unforgiving  than  the  unforgiven. 

Festus.     I  do  absolve  thee,  beauty,  of  all  faults, 
Past,  present,  or  to  come. 

Helen.  Well,  that  will  do. 

What  was  I  saying  1     I  love  this  instrument ; 
It  speaks,  it  thinks  —  nay,  I  could  kiss  it :  look ! 
There  are  three  things  I  love  half  killingly;  — 
Thee  lastly,  and  this  next,  and  myself  first. 

Festus.     Thou  art  a  silly,  tiresome  thing,  and  yet 
I  never  weary  of  thee ;  but  could  gaze, 
Faint  with  excess  and  not  satiety. 
Upon  thy  countenance,  with  the  serious  joy 
With  which  we  eye  and  eye  the  unbounded  space 
Which  is  the  visible  attribute  of  God, 
Who  makes  all  things  within  Himself;  and  thus 
It  is  the  Heaven  we  hope  for,  and  can  find 
No  point  from  w^hich  to  take  its  altitude ; 
For  the  Infinite  is  upwards,  and  above 
The  highest  thing  created  —  upwards  aye  : 
So  I  could,  thinking  on  thy  face,  believe 
An  infinite  expression,  heightening  still 
The  longer  that  I  thought,  and  leaving  thee, 
Coming  to  thee,  or  being  with  thee,  —  love ! 

Helen.     I  am  so  happy  when  with  thee. 

Festus.  And  1. 


404  '  FESTUS. 

They  tell  us  virtue  lives  in  self-denial. 

My  virtue  is  indulgence.     I  was  born 

To  gratify  myself  unboundedly, 

So  that  I  wronged  none  else.     These  arms  were  given 

me 
To  clasp  the  beautiful,  and  cleave  the  wave; 
These  limbs  to  leap  and  wander  where  I  will ; 
These  eyes  to  look  on  every  thing  without 
Effort ;  these  ears  to  list  my  loved  one's  voice ; 
These  lips  to  be  divinized  by  her  kiss : 
And  every  sense,  pulse,  passion,  power,  to  be 
Swollen  into  sunny  ripeness. 

Helen.  .  Virtue  is  one 

With  nature,  or  'tis  nothing:  it  is  love. 

Festus.     I    come    fresh    from    thee    every  time  we 

meet. 
Steeped  in  the  still  sweet  dew  of  thy  soft  beauty. 
Like  earth  at  day-dawn,  lifting  up  her  head 
Out  of  her  sleep,  star-watched,  to  face  the  sun  — 
So  I,  to  front  the  world,  on  leaving  thee. 
Oh!  there  is  inspiration  in  thy  look. 
Poesy,  prophecy.     Come  hither,  love; 
The  evening  air  is  sweet.  - 

Helen.  It  comes  on  us 

Fresher  and  clearer  through  these  dewy  vine-leaves, 
Fit  for  the  forehead  of  the  young  wine-god. 

Festus.     a  large,  red  egg  of  light    the  moon  lies 

like 
On  the  dark  moor-hill,  and  now,  rising  slow, 


FESTUS.  405 

Beams  on  the  clear  flood,  smilingly ,  intent, 
Like  a  fair  face,  which  loves  to  look  on  itself, 
Saying,    "There  is  no  wonder  that  men  love  me. 
For  I  am  beautiful ! "  —  as  I  heard  thee. 

Helen.     It  was  not  right  to  overhear  me  that. 

Festus.     'Twas  very  wrong  to  do  what  I  could  not 
help ; 
But  vanity  speaks  out. 

Helen.  Well,  I  don't  mind ; 

I  never  knew  that  I  was  as  I  am 
Till  others  told  me. 

Festus.  Now  were  soon  enough. 

Helen.     Ah,    nothing    comes    to  us  too   soon    but 
sorrow. 

Festus.     For  all  were  happiness,  if  all  might  live 
Long,  or  die  soon,  enough :  for  even  us. 

Helen.     Dost  not   remember,  when,  the  other  eve, 
Thy  friend  the  student  called,  there  was  a  tale 
Upon  thy  tongue  he  interrupted? 

Festus.  Was  there?  — 

Helen.     A  tale  out  of  the  poets,  about  love. 
And  happiness,  and  sorrow,  and  such  things. 

Festus.     But  I  forget  such  things  when  thou  art  by. 
Besides,  I  asked  him  here  again,  to-night; 
Here,  at  this  hour ;  and  he  is  punctual. 

Helen.     In  truth,  then,  I  despair  of  hearing  it. 
He  keeps  his  word  relentlessly.     With  not 
More  pride  an  Indian  shows  his  foeman's  scalp 
Than  he  his  watch  for  punctuality. 


406  FESTUS. 

Festus.     But  tales  of  love  are  far  more  readily 
Made  than  remembered. 

Helen.  Telltale,  make  one,  then. 

Festus.     Love  is    the  art  of   hearts    and    heart  of 
arts. 
Conjunctive  looks  and  interjectional  sighs 
Are  its  vocabulary's  greater  half 
Well,  then,  my  story  says,  there  was  a  pair 
Of  lovers,  once  — 

Helen.  Once  !  nay,  how  singular ! 

Festus.     But  where  they  lived,  indeed,  I  quite  for 
get;  — 
Say  any  where  —  say  here:  their  names  w^ere  —  I 
Forget  those,  too  ;  say  any  one's,  say  ours. 

Helen.     Most  probable,  most  pertinent,   so  far ! 

Festus.     The  lady  was,  of  course,  most  beautiful, 
And  made  her  lover  do  just  as  she  pleased ; 
And  consequently  he  did  very  wrong. 
T'hey  met,  sang,  walked,  talked  folly,  just  as  all 
Such  couples  do  ;  adored  each  other ;  thought. 
Spoke,  wrote,  dreamed  of  and  for  nought  on  earth 
Except  themselves ;  and  so  on. 

Helen.  Pray  proceed!  — 

Festus.     That's  all. 

Helen.  Oh,  no ! 

Festus.  Well,  thus  the  tale  ends;  stay 

Xo,  I  cannot  remember  nor  invent. 

Helen.     Do  think ! 

Festu?  I   can't. 


FESTUS.  407 

Helen.  Oh,  then,  I  don't  like  that: 

'Tis  not  in  earnest. 

Festus.     Well,  in  earnest,  then. 
She  did  but  look  upon  him,  and  his  blood 
Blushed  deeper  even  from  his  inmost  heart ; 
For  at  each  glance  of  those  sweet  eyes  a  soul 
Looked  forth  as  from  the  azure  gates  of  Heaven ; 
She  laid  her  finger  on  him,  and  he  felt 
As  might  a  formless  mass  of  marble  feel 
While  feature  after  feature  of  a  god 
Were  being  wrought  from  out  of  it.     She  spake, 
And  his  love-wildered  and  idolatrous  soul 
Clung  to  the  airy  music  of  her  words. 
Like  a  bird  on  a  bough,  high  swaying  in  the  wind. 
He  looked  upon  her  beauty  and  forgot, 
As  in  a  sense  of  drowning,  all  things  else  ; 
And    right    and  wrong   seemed  one,  seemed  nothing ; 

she 
Was  beauty,  and  that  beauty  every  thing; 
He  looked  upon  her  as  the  sun  on  earth: 
Until,  like  him,  he  gazed  himself  away 
From  Heaven  so  doing ;   till  he  even  wept,  — 
Wept  on  her  bosom  as  a  storm-charged  cloud 
Weeps  itself  out  upon  a  hill,  and  cried  — 
I,  too,  could  look  on  thee  until  I  wept, — 
Blind  me  with  kisses  !     Let  me  look  no  longer  ; 
Or  change  the  action  of  thy  loveliness, 
Lest  long  same-seemingness    should  send  me  mad  I  — 
Blind  me  with  kisses  ;    I  would  ruin  sight 


408  FESTUS. 

To  give  its  virtue  to  thy  lips,  whereon 

1  would  die  now,  or  ever  live:  and  she, 

Soft  as  a  feather-footed  cloud  on  Heaven, 

While  her  sad  face  grew  bright  like  night  with  stars, 

Would  turn  her  brow  to  his,  and  both  be  happy;  — 

Numbered  among  the  constellations  they!  — 

Then  as  tired  wanderer,  snow-blinded,  sinks 

And  swoons  upon  the  swelling  drift,  and  dies, 

So  on  her  dazzling  bosom  would  he  lay 

His  famished  lips,  and  end  their  travels  there. 

Oh,  happy  they!  not  he  would  go  to  Heaven; 

Not,  though  he  might  that  moment. 

Helen.  Nor  I,  now. 

Festus.     Helen,  my  love  ! 

Helen.  Yes,  I  am  here. 

Festus.  It  has 

Been  such  a  day  as  that,  thou  knowest,  when  first 
I  said  I  loved  thee ;  that  long,  sunny  day 
We  passed -upon  the  waters  —  heeding  nought, 
Seeing  nought,  but  each  other. 

Helen.  I  remember. 

The  only  wise  thing  that  I  ever  did  — 
The  only  good  —  was  to  love  thee,  and  therefore 
I  would  have  no  one  else  as  wise  as  I. 
Didst  thou  not  say  that  student  would  be  here? 

Festus.     I  think  I  hear  him  every  minute  come. 

Helen.     It  is  not  kind.     We  should  be  more  alone. 
There  was  a  time  thou  wouldst  have  no  one  else. 

Festus.     Am  I  not  with  thee  all  dav  ? 


FESTUS.  409 

Helen.  Yes,  I  know; 

But  often  and  often  thou  art  thinking  not 
Of  me. 

Festus.     My  good  child!  — 

Helen.  Well,  I  know  thou  lovest  me  ; 

And  so  I  cannot  bear  thee  to  think,  speak. 
Or  be  with  any  but  me. 

Festus.  Then  I  will  not. 

Helen.     Oh,  thou  wouldst   promise   me  the  clock 
round.     Now, 
Promise  me  this  —  that  I  shall  never  die. 
And  I'll  believe  thee  when  I  am  dead  —  not  till. 
But  let  it  pass.     I  am  at  peace  with  thee; 
And  pardon  thee,  and  give  thee  leave  to  live. 

Festus.     Magnanimous ! 

Helen.     When  Earth,  and  Heaven,  and  all 
Things  seem  so  bright  and  lovely  for  our  sakes. 
It  were  a  sin  not  to  be  happy.     See ! 
The  moon  is  up;  it  is  the  dawn  of  night. 
Stands  by  her  side  one  bold,  bright,  steady  star  — 
Star  of  her  heart,  and  heir  to  all  her  light. 
Whereon  she  looks  so  proudly  mild  and  calm, 
As  though  she  were  the  mother  of  that  star. 
And  knew  he  was  a  chief  sun  in  his  sphere, 
But  by  her  side,  in  the  great  strife  of  lights 
To  shine  to  God,  he  had  filially  failed, 
And  hid  his  arrows  and  his  bow  of  beams. 
Mother  of  stars  !  the  Heavens  look  up  to  thee. 
They  sliine  the  brighter  but  to  hide  thy  waning; 

52  n 


410  FESTUS. 

They  wait  and  wane  for  thee  to  enlarge  thy  beauty; 
They  give  thee  all  their  glory,  night  by  night; 
Their  number  makes  not  less  thy  loneliness 
Nor  loveliness. 

Festus.  Heaven's  beauty  grows  on  us  ; 

And  when  the  elder  worlds  have  ta'en  their  seats, 
Come  the  divine  ones,  gathering  one  by  one. 
And  family  by  family,  with  still 
And  holy  air,  into  the  house  of  God  — 
The  house  of  light  He  hath  builded  for  Himself, 
And  worship  Him  in  silence  and  in  sadness. 
Immortal  and  immovable.     And  there. 
Night  after  night,  they  meet  to  worship  God. 
For  us  this  witness  of  the  worlds  is  given, 
That  we  may  add  ourselves  to  their  great  glory, 
And  worship  with  them.     They  are  there  for  lights 
To  light  us  on  our  way  through  Heaven  to  God  ; 
And  we,  too,  have  the  power  of  light  in  us. 
Ye  stars,  how  bright  ye  shine  to-night !  mayhap 
Ye  are  the  resurrection  of  the  worlds, — 
Glorified  globes  of  light !     Shall  ours  be  like  ye  1 
Nay,  but  it  is  !    this  wild,  dark  earth  of  ours. 
Whose  face  is  furrowed  like  a  losing  gamester's. 
Is  shining  round,  and  bright,  and  smooth  in  air 
Millions  of  miles  off.     Not  a  single  path 
Of  thought  I  tread,  but  that  it  leads  to  God. 
And  when  her  time  is  out,  and  earth  again 
Hath  travailled  with  the  divine  dust  of  man. 
Then  the  world's  womb  shall  open,  and  her  s.i^nc 


FESTUS.  411 

Be  born  again,  all  glorified  immortals. 

And  she,  their  mother,  purified  by  fire. 

Shall  sit  her  down  in  Heaven,  a  bride  of  God, 

And  handmaid  of  the  ever-being  One. 

Our  earth  is  learning  all  accomplishments 

To  fit  her  for  her  bridehood. 

Helen.  He  is  here. 

Festus.     Welcome. 

Student.  I  thought  the  night  was  beautiful, 

But  find  the  in-door  scene  still  lovelier. 

Helen.     Ah!  all  is  beautiful  where  beauty  is. 

Student.     Night   hath    made   many  bards ;    she   is 
so  lovely. 
For  it  is  beauty  maketh  poesy. 
As  from  the  dancing  eye  come  tears  of  light. 
Night  hath  made  many  bards  ;  she  is  so  lovely. 
And  they  have  praised  her  to  her  starry  face 
So  long,  that  she  hath  blushed  and  left  them,  often. 
When  first  and  last  we  met,  we  talked  on  studies; 
Poetry,  only,  I  confess  is  mine. 
And  is  the  only  thing  I  think  or  read  of:  — 
Feeding  my  soul  upon    the  soft,  and  sweet, 
And  delicate  imaginings  of  song; 
For  as  nightingales  do  upon   glowworms  feed. 
So  poets  live  upon  the  living  light 
Of  nature  and  of  beauty ;  they  love  light. 

Festus.     But  poetry  is  not  confined  to  books. 
For  the  creative  spirit  which  thou  seekest 
Is  in  thee,  and  about  thee;  yea,  it  hath 
God*s  evervwhereness. 


4:12  FE8TUS. 

Student  Truly.     It  was  for  this 

I  sought  to  know  thy  thoughts,  and  hear  the  course 
Thou  wouldst  lay  out  for  one  who  longs  to  win 
A  name  among  the  nations. 

Festus.  First  of  all, 

Care  not  about  the  name,  but   bind  thyself, 
Body  and  soul,  to  nature  hiddenly. 
Lo,  the  great  march  of  stars  from  earth  to  earth. 
Through  Heaven.     The  earth  speaks  inwardly  alone. 
Let  no  man  know  thy  business,  save  some  friend, — 
A  man  of  mind,  above  the  run  of  men  ; 
For  it  is  with  all  men  and  with  all   things. 
The  bard  must  have  a  kind,  courageous  heart. 
And  natural  chivalry,  to  aid  the  weak. 
He  must  believe  the  best  of  every  thing ; 
Love  all  below,  and  worship  all  above. 
All  animals  are  living  hieroglyphs. 
The  dashing  dog,  and  stealthy-stepping  cat. 
Hawk,  bull,  and    all    that    breathe,   mean    something 

more 
To  the  true  eye  than  their  shapes  show ;  for  all 
Were  made  in  love,  and  made  to  be  beloved. 
Thus  must  he  think  as  to  earth's  lower  life, 
Who  seeks  to  win  the  world  to  thought  and  love, 
As  doth  the  bard,  whose  habit  is  all  kindness 
To  every  thing. 

Helen.  I  love  to  hear  of  such. 

Could  we  but  think  with  the  intensity 
We  love  with,  one  might  do  great  things,  I  think. 


FESTUS.  4lf^ 

Festus.     Kindness  is  wisdom.     There  is  none  in  life 
But  needs  it,  and  may  learn  ;  eye-reasoning  man, 
And  spirit  unassisted,  unobscured. 

Student.     Go  on,  I  pray.     I  came  to  be  informed. 
Thou  knowest  my  ambition,  and  I  joy 
To  feel  thou  feedest  it  with  purest  food. 

Festus.     I  cannot  tell  thee  all  I  feel ;   and  know 
But  little  save  myself,  and  am  not  ashamed 
To  say,  that  I  have  studied  my  own  life. 
And  know  it  is  like  to  a  tear-blistered  letter, 
Which  holdeth  fruit  and  proof  of  deeper  feeling 
Than  the  poor  pen  can  utter,  or  the  eye 
Discover;  and  that  often  my  heart's  thoughts 
Will  rise  and  shake  my  breast,  as  madmen  shake 
The  stanchions  of  their  dungeons,  and  howl  out. 

Helen.     But  thou  wast  telling  us  of  poesy 
And  the  kind  nature-hearted  bards. 

Festus.  I  was. 

I  knew  one  once  —  he  was  a  friend  of  mine  ; 
I  knew  him  well  —  his  mind,  habits,  and  works, 
Taste,  temper,  temperament,  and  every  thing; 
Yet  with  as  kind  a  heart  as  beats,  he  was. 
Earthlike,    no    sooner    made    than    marred.      Thouglj 

young. 
He  wrote  amid  the  ruins  of  his  heart ; 
They  were  his  throne  and  theme ;  —  like    some    lone 

king, 
^Vho  tells  the  story  of  the  land  he  lost, 
And  how  he  lost  it. 

II* 


414  FESTUS. 

Student.  Tell  us  more  of  him. 

Helen.     Nay,  but  it  saddens  thee. 

Festus.  'Tis  like  enough* 

We  slip  aAvay  like  shadows  into  shade ; 
We  end,  and  make  no  mark  we  had  begun  ; 
We  come  to  nothing,  like  a  pure  intent. 
When  we  have  hoped,   sought,    striven,  and   lost  our 

aim, 
Then  the  truth  fronts  us,  beaming  out  of  darkness, 
Like  a  white  brow,  through  its  overshadowing  hair  — 
As  though  the  day  were  overcast,   my  Helen ! 
But  I  was  speaking  of  my  friend.     He  was 
Quick,  generous,  simple,  obstinate  in  end. 
High-hearted  from  his  youth  ;  his  spirit  rose 
In  many  a  glittering  fold  and  gleamy  crest. 
Hydra-like  to  its  hinderance ;   mastering  all. 
Save  one  thing  —  love ;  and  that  out-hearted  him. 
Nor  did  he  think  enough,  till  it  was  over. 
How  bright  a  thing  he  was  breaking,  or  he  would 
Surely  have  shunned  it,  nor  have  let  his  life 
Be  pulled  to  pieces  like  a  rose  by  a  child ; 
And  his  heart's  passions  made  him  oft  do  that 
Which   made   him  writhe  to  think  on  what   he   had 

done. 
And  thin  his  blood  by  weeping  at  a  night. 
If  madness  wrought   the   sin,  the   sin  wrought   mad 

ness, 
And  made  a  round  of  ruin.     It  is  sad 
To  see  the  light  of  beauty  wane  away. 


FESTUS.  415 

Know  eyes  are  dimming,  bosom   shrivelling,  feet 
Losing  their  spring,  and  limbs  their  lily  roundness  ; 
But  it  is  worse  to  feel  our  heart-spring  gone, 
To  lose  hope,  care  not  for  the  coming  thing, 
And  feel  all  things  go  to  decay  with  us. 
As  'twere  our  life's  eleventh  month ;  and  yet 
All  this  he  went  through  young. 

Helen.  Poor  soul !  I  should 

Have  loved  him  for  his  sorrows. 

Festus.  It  is  not  love 

Brings  sorrow,  but  love's  objects. 

Student.  Then  he  loved. 

Festus.     I    said    so.     I    have    seen   him,  when    he 
hath  had 
A  letter  from  his  lady  dear:  he  blessed 
The  paper  that  her  hand  had  travelled  over, 
And  her  eye  looked  on,  and  would  think  he  saw 
Gleams  of  that  light  she  lavished  from  her  eyes 
Wandering  amid  the  words  of  love  there  traced, 
Like  glowworms  among  beds  of  flowers.     He  seemed 
To  bear  with  being  but  because  she  loved  him. 
She  was  the  sheath  wherein  his  soul  had  rest, 
As  hath  a  sword  from  war :  and  he,  at  night, 
Would  solemnly  and  singularly  curse 
Each  minute  that  he  had  not  thought  of  her. 

Helen.     Now  that  was  like  a  lover !  and  she  loved 
Him,  and  him  only. 

Festus.  Well,  perhaps  it  was  so. 

But  he  could  not  restrain  his  heart,  but  loved 


416  FESTUS. 

In  that  voluptuous  purity  of  taste 

Which  dwells  on  beauty  coldly,  and  yet  kindly, 

As  night  dew,  whensoe'er  he  met  with  beauty. 

Helen.     It  was  a  pity,  that  inconstancy  — 
If  she  he  loved  were  but  as  good  and  fair 
As  he  was  worthy  of 

Student.  It  was  his  way. 

Festus.     There  is  a  dark  and  bright  to  every  thing ; 
To  every  thing  but  beauty  such  as  thine. 
And  that  is  all  bright.     If  a  fault  in  him, 
Twas  one  which  made  him  do  the  sweetest  wrongs 
Man  ever  did.     And  yet  a  whisper  went 
That  he  did  wrong :  and  if  that  whisper  had 
Echo  in  him  or  not,  it  mattered  little ; 
Or  right  or  wrong,  he  were  alike  unhappy. 
Ah  me !  ah  me !  that  there  should  be  so  much 
To  call  up  love,  so  little  to  delight ! 
The  best  enjoyment  is  half  disappointment 
To  that  we  mean  or  would  have,  in  this  world. 
And  there  were  many  strange  and  sudden  lights 
Beckoned    him    towards    them ;    they  were    wreckers' 

lights : 
But  he  shunned  these,  and  righted  when  she  rose. 
Moon  of  his  life,  that  ebbed  and  flowed  with  her. 
A  sea  of  sorrow  struck  him,  but  he  held 
On ;   dashed  all  sorrow  from  him  as  a  bark 
Spray  from  her  bow  bounding;  he  lifted  up 
His  head,  and  the  deep  ate  his  shadow  merely. 

Helen.     A  poet  not  in  love  is  out  at  sea; 
He  must  have  a  lay-figure. 


FESTUS.  417 

Festus.  I  meant  not 

To  screen,  but  to  describe,  this  friend  of  mine. 

Helen.     Describe  the  lady,  too  ;  of  course  she  was 
Above  all  praise,  and  all  comparison. 

Festus.     Why,  true.     Her  heart  was  all  humanity, 
Her  soul  all  God's  ;  in  spirit  and  in  form. 
Like  fair.     Her  cheek  had  the  pale,  pearly  pink 
Of  seashells,  the  world's  sweetest  tint,  as  though 
She  lived,  one  half  might  deem,  on  roses  sopped 
In  silver  dew ;  she  spake  as  with  the  voice 
Of  spheral  harmony,  which  greets  the  soul 
When  at  the  hour  of  death  the  saved  one  knows 
His  sister  angels  near;  her  eye  was  as 
The  golden  pane  the  setting  sun  doth  just 
Emblaze ;  w^hich  shows,  till  Heaven  comes  down  again, 
All  other  lights  but  grades  of  gloom ;  her  dark, 
Long,  rolling  locks  were  as  a  stream  the  slave 
Might    search    for    gold,    and,  searching,    find.      Her 
frown  — 

Helen.     Nay,  could  she  frown  1 

Festus.  Ay,  but  a  radiant  frown 

In  common  with  the  stars,  which  men  malign 
Who  call  malignant.     Stars  are  always  kind. 

Helen.      Enough.      I    have    her    picture    perfect. 
Cease. 
.   Student.     What  were  his  griefs  ] 

Festus.  He  who  hath  most  of  heart 

Knows  most  of  sorrow;  not  a  thing  he  saw 
Nor  did  but  was  to  him,  at  times,  a  woe ; 

53 


•418  FESTUS. 

At  times  indifferent,  at  times  a  joy. 
Folly,  and  sin,  and  memory  make  a  curse 
Wherewith  the  future  fires  may  vie  in  vain. 
The  sorrows  of  the  soul  are  graver  still. 

Student.     Where    and  when  did   he   study  ]      Did 
he  mix 
Much  with  the  world,  or  was  he  a  recluse] 

Festus.     He  had  no  times  of  study,  and  no  place; 
All  places  and  all  times  to  him  were  one. 
His  soul  was  like  the  wind-harp,  which  he  loved, 
And  sounded  only  when  the  spirit  blew. 
Sometimes  in  feasts  and  follies,  for  he  went 
Lifelike   through  all  things  ;    and   his   thoughts  then 

rose 
Like  sparkles  in  the  bright  wine,  brighter  still. 
Sometimes  in  dreams,  and  then  the  shining  words 
Would  wake  him  in  the  dark  before  his  face. 
All  things  talked  thoughts  to  him.     The  sea  went  mad. 
And  the  wind  whined  as  'twere  in  pain,  to  show 
Each  one  his  meaning;  and  the  awful  sun 
Thundered  his  thoughts  into  him  ;    and  at  night 
The  stars  would  whisper  theirs,  the  moon  sigh  hers. 
The  spirit  speaks  all  tongues  and  understands  ; 
^oth  God's  and  angel's,  man's  and  all  dumb  things, 
Down  to  an  insect's  inarticulate  hum 
And  an  inaudible  organ.     And  it  was 
The  spirit  spake  to  him  of  every  thing ; 
And  with  the  moony  eyes,  like  those  we  see, 
Thousands  on  thousands,  crowding  air  in  dreams, 


FESTUS.  419 

Looked  into  him  its  mighty  meanings,  till 

He  felt  the  power  fulfil  him,  as  a  cloud 

In  every  fibre  feels  the  forming  wind. 

He    spake    the    world's    one    tongue ;    in    earth    and 

Heaven 
There  is  but  one  —  it  is  the  word  of  truth. 
To  him  the  eye  let  out  its  hidden  meaning. 
And  young  and  old  made  their  hearts  over  to  him  ; 
And  thoughts  were  told  to  him  as  unto  none 
Save  one  who  heareth  said  and  unsaid,  all. 
And  his  heart  held  these  as  a  grate  its  gleeds, 
Where  others  warm  them. 

Student.  I  would  I  had  known  him. 

Festus.     xlU  things  were  inspiration  unto  him  : 
AVood,  wold,  hill,  field,  sea,  city,  solitude. 
And  crowds,  and  streets,  and  man  where'er  he  was  ; 
And  the  blue  eye  of  God  which  is  above  us ; 
Brook-bounded  pine  spinnies,  w^here  spirits  flit ; 
And  haunted  pits  the  rustic  hurries  by. 
Where  cold,  wet  ghosts  sit  ringing  jingling  bells  ; 
Old  orchards'  leaf-roofed  aisles,  and  red-cheeked  load  ; 
And  the  blood-colored  tears  which  yew-trees  weep 
O'er  churchyard  graves,  like  murderers  remorseful. 
The  dark  green  rings  where  fairies  sit  and  sup, 
Crushing  the  violet  dew  in  the  acorn  cup ; 
Where  by  his  new-made  bride  the  bridegroom  sips, 
The  white  moon  shimmering  on  their  longing  lips  ; 
The  large,  o'erloaded,  wealthy-looking  wains 
Quietly  swaggering  home   through  leafy  lanes, 


420  FESTUS. 

Leaving  on  all  low  branches,  as  they  come, 
Straws  for  the  birds,  ears  of  the  harvest  home. 
Summer's  warm  soil,  or  winter's  cruel  sky, 
Clear,  cold,  and  icy-blue,  like  a  sea-eagle's  eye ; 
All  things  to  Him  bare  thoughts  of  minstrelsy. 
He  drew  his  light  from  that  he  was  amidst. 
As  doth  a  lamp  from  air  which  hath  itself 
Matter  of  light,  although  it  show  not.     His 
Was  but  the  power  to  light  what  might  be  lit. 
He  met  a  muse  in  every  lovely  maid ; 
And  learned  a  song  from  every  lip  he  loved. 
But  his  heart  ripened  mcist  'neath  Southern  eyes. 
Which  sunned  their  sweets  into  him  all  day  long : 
For  fortune  called  him  Southwards,  towards  the  sun. 

Helen.     Did  he  love  music  ? 

Festus.  The  only  music  he 

Or  learned  or  listened  to  was  from  the  lips 
Of  her  he  loved,  and  that  he  learned  by  heart. 
Albeit  she  would  try  to  teach  him  tunes. 
And  put  his  fingers  on  the  keys ;  but  he 
Could  only  see  her  eyes,  and  hear  her  voice, 
And  feel  her  touch. 

Helen.  Why,  he  was  much  like  thee. 

Festus.     We  had  some  points  in  common. 

Student.  Was  he  proud] 

Festus.     Lowliness  is  the  base  of  every  virtue ; 
And  he  who  goes  the  lowest,  builds  the  safest. 
My  God  keeps  all  his  pity  for  the  proud. 

Student.     Was  he  world-wise? 


FESTUS.  421 

Festus.  The  only  wonder  is 

He  knew  so  much,  leadmg  the  life  he  did. 

Student.      Yet  it  may  seem  less  strange  when  we 
think  back, 
That  we,  in  the  dark  chamber  of  the  heart. 
Sitting  alone,  see  the  world  tabled  to  us; 
And  the  world  wonders  how  recluses  know 
So  much,  and,  most  of  all,  how  we  know  them. 
It  is  they  who  paint  themselves  upon  our  hearts 
In  their  own  lights  and  darknesses,  not  we. 
One  stream  of  light  is  to  us  from  above. 
And  that  is  that  we  see  by  —  light  of  God. 

Festus.     We    do    not    make    our    thoughts ;    they 
grow  in  us 
Like  grain  in  wood:  the  growth  is  of  the  skies, 
Which  are  of  nature;  nature  is  of  God. 
The  Avorld  is  full  of  glorious  likenesses. 
The  poet's  power  is  to  sort  these  out. 
And  to  make  music  from  the  common  strings 
With  which  the  world  is  strung;  to  make  the  dumb 
Earth  utter  heavenly  harmony,  and  draw 
Life  clear,  and  sweet,  and  harmless  as  spring  water 
Welling  its  way  through  flowers.     Without  faith. 
Illimitable  faith,  strong  as  a  state's 
In  its  own  might,  in  God,  no  bard  can  be. 
All  things  are  signs  of  other,  and  of  nature. 
It  is  at  night  we  see  Heaven  moveth,  and 
A  darkness  thick  with  suns.     The  thoughts  we  think 
Subsist  the  same  in  God  as  stars  in  Heaven. 


422  F EST us. 

And  as  these  specks  of  light  will  prove  great  worlds 

When  we  approach  them  sometime  free  from  flesh, 

So,  too,  our  thoughts  will  become  magnified 

To  mindlike  things  immortal.     And  as  space 

Is  but  a  property  of  God,  wherein 

Is  laid  all  matter,  other  attributes 

May  be  the  infinite  homes  of  mind  and  soul. 

And  thoughts  rise  from  our  souls,  as  from  the  sea 

The  clouds  sublimed  in  Heaven.     The  cloud  is  cold. 

Although  a-blaze  with  lightning  —  though  it  shine 

At  all  points  like  a  constellation ;  so 

We  live  not  to  ourselves  —  our  work  is  life ; 

In  bright  and  ceaseless  labor,  as  a  star 

Wliich  shineth  unto  all  worlds  but  itself 

Helen.     And  were  this  friend  and   bard  of  whom 
thou  speak' st. 
And  she  whom  he  did  love,  happy  together? 

Festus.     True  love  is  ever  tragic,  grievous,  grave. 
Bards  and  their  beauties  are  like  double  stars. 
One  in  their  bright  efiect. 

Helen.  Whose  light  is  love. 

Student.     Or  is  it  poesy  thou  meanest  1 

Festus.  Both : 

For  love  is  poesy  —  it  doth  create ; 
From  fading  features,  dim  soul,  doubtful  heart. 
And  this  world's  wretched   happiness,  a  life 
Which  is  as  near  to  Heaven  as  are  the  stars. 
They  parted ;  and  she  named  Heaven's  judgment  seat 
As  their  next  place  of  meeting:  and  'twas  kept 


FESTUS.  '  423 

By  her  —  at  least,  so  far  that  no  where  else 
Could  it  be  made  until  the  day  of  doom. 

Helen.      So    soon    men's    passion    passes !    yea,    it 
sinks 
Like  foam  into  the  troubled  wave  which  bore  it. 
Merciful  God !  let  me  entreat  Thy  mercy ! 
I  have  seen  all  the  woes  of  men  —  pain,  death, 
Uemorse,  and  worldly  ruin  ;  they  are  little. 
Weighed  with  the  woe  of  woman  when  forsaken 
By  him  she  loved  and  trusted.     Hear,  too,  thou! 
Lady  of  Heaven,  Mother  of  God  and  man. 
Who  made  the  world  His  brother,  one  with  God  — 
Maid-mother!  mould  of  God,  who  wrought  in  thee 
By  model,  as  He  doth  in  the  world's  womb. 
So  that  the  universe  is  great  with  God  — 
Thou  in  whom  God  did  deify  Himself, 
Betaking  Him  into  immortality, 
As  in  Thy  Son  He  took  it  into  Him, 
And  from  the  temporal  and  eternal  made 
Of  the  soul-world  one  same  and  ever  God ! 
Oh,  for  the  sake  of  thine  own  womanhood, 
Pray  away  aught  of  evil  from  her  soul. 
And  take  her  out  of  anguish  unto  thee. 
Always,  as  thou  didst  this  one  ! 

Festus.  Who  doth  not 

Believe  that  that  he  loveth  cannot  die  ? 
There  is  no  mote  of  death  in  thine  eye's  beams 
To  hint  of  dust,  or  darkness,  or  decay ; 
Eclipse  upon  eclipse,  and  death  on  death ; 


424  FESTUS. 

No !  immortality  sits  mirrored  there 

Like  a  fair  face,  long  looking  on  itself; 

Yet  thou  shalt  lie  in  death's  angelic  garb 

As  in  a  dream  of  dress,  my  beautiful! 

The  worm  shall  trail  across  thine  unsunned  sweets, 

And  feast  him  on  the  heart  men  pined  to  death  for ; 

Yea,  have  a  happier  knowledge  of  thy  beauties 

Than  best-loved  lover's  dream  e'er  duped  him  with. 

Helen.     It  is  unkind  to  think  of  me  in  this  wise. 
Surely,  the  stars  must  feel  that  they  are  bright  — 
In  beauty,  number,  nature,  infinite; 
And  the  strong  sense  we  have  of  God  in  us 
Makes  me  believe  my  soul  can  never  cease. 
The  temples  perish,  but  the  God  still  lives. 

Festus.     It  is  therefore  that  I  love  thee;    for  that 
when 
The  fiery  perfection  of  the  world, 
The  sun,  shall  be  a  shadow  and  burnt  out, 
There  is  an  impulse  to  eternity 
Kaised  by  this  moment's  love. 

Student.  I  pray  it  may! 

Time  is  the  crescent  shape  to  bounded  eye 
Of  what  is  ever  perfect  unto  God. 
The  bosom  heaves  to  Heaven,  and  to  the  stars; 
Our  very  hearts  throb  upwards,  our  eyes  look ; 
Our  aspirations  always  are  divine : 
Yet  is  it  in  the  gloom  of  soul  we  see 
Most  of  the  God  about  us,  as  at  night. 
For  then  the  soul,  like  the  mother-maid  of  Christ, 


FESTUS.  425 

Is  overshadowed  by  the  Holy  Spirit; 
And  in  creative  darkness  doth  conceive 
Its  humanized  Divinity  of  life. 

Festus.     Think  then  God  shows  his  face  to  us  no 
less 
In  spiritual  darkness  than  in  light. 

Helen.     But  of   thy  friend?      1  would  hear  more 
of  him. 
Perhaps  much  happiness  in  friendship  made 
Amends  for  his  love's  sorrows. 

Festus.  Ask  me  not. 

Helen.     But  loved   he    never  after]      Came    there 
none 
To  roll  the  stone  from  his  sepulchral  heart, 
And  sit  in  it  an  angeH 

Festus.  Ah,  my  life  ! 

My  more  than  life,  my  immortality ! 
Both  man  and  womankind  belie  their  nature 
When  they  are  not  kind:    and  thy  words  are  kind, 
And  beautiful,  and  loving  like  thyself; 
Thine  eye  and  thy  tongue's  tone,  and  all  that  speak 
Thy  soul,  are  like  it.     There's  a  something  in 
The  shape  of  harps,  as  though  they  had  been  made 
By  music:  beauty's  the  effect  of  soul. 
And  he  of  whom  thou  askest  loved  again. 
Could'st  thou  have  loved  one  who  was  unlike  men  ? 
Whose  heart  w^as  wrinkled  long  before  his  brow] 
Who  would  have  cursed  himself  if  he  had  dared 
Tempt  God  to  ratify  his  curse  in  fire: 

54  jj* 


426  FESTUS. 

And  yet  with  whom  to  look  on  beauty  was 
A  need,  a  thirst,  a  passion  1 

Helen.  Yes,  I  think 

I  could  have  loved  him ;   but,  no  —  not  unless 
He  was  like  thee;  unless  he  had  been  thee. 
Tell  me,  what  was  it  rendered  him  so  wretched 
At  heart  ? 

Festus.     I  will  not  tell  thee. 

Student.  But  tell  me 

How  and  on  what  he  wrote,  this  friend  of  thine  ] 

Festus.     Love,    mirth,  woe,  pleasure  was    in    turn 
his  theme, 
And  the  great  good  which  beauty  does  the  soul ; 
And  the  God-made  necessity  of  things. 
And  like  that  noble  knight  in  olden  tale. 
Who  changed  his  armor's  hue  at  each  fresh  charge 
By  virtue  of  his  lady-love's  strange  ring. 
So  that  none  knew  him  save  his  private  page 
And  she  who  cried,  God  save  him,  every  time 
He  brake  spears  with  the  grave  till  he  quelled  all  — 
So  he  applied  him  to  all  themes  that  came ; 
Loving  the  most  to  breast  the  rapid  deeps 
Where  others  had  been  drowned,  and  heeding  nought 
Where  danger  might  not  fill  the  place  of  fame. 
And  'mid  the  magic  circle  of  those  sounds, 
His  lyre  rayed  out,  spell-bound  himself  he  stood. 
Like  a  stilled  storm.     It  is  no  task  for  suns 
To  shine.     He  knew  himself  a  bard  ordained, 
More  than  inspired,  of  God,  inspirited,  — 


FESTUS.  427 

Making  himself  like  an  electric  rod, 

A  lure  for  lightning  feelings;  and  his  words 

Felt  like  the  things  that  fall  in  thunder,  which 

The  mind,  when  in  a  dark,  hot,  cloudful  state, 

Doth  make  metallic,  meteoric,  ball-like. 

He  spake  to  spirits  with  a  spirit  tongue, 

Who  came  compelled  by  wizard  word  of  truth, 

And  rayed  them  round  him  from  the  ends  of  Heaven. 

For  as  be  all  bards,  he  w^as  born  of  beauty, 

And  with  a  natural  fitness  to  draw  down 

All  tones  and  shades  of  beauty  to  his  soul, 

Even  as  the  rainbow-tinted  shell,  which  lies 

Miles  deep  at  bottom  of  the  sea,  hath  all 

Colors  of  skies,  and  flowers,  and  gems,  and  plumes, 

And  all  by  nature,  which  doth  reproduce 

Like  loveliness  in  seeming  opposites. 

Our  life  is  like  the  wizard's  charmed  ring : 

Death's  heads  and  loathsome  things  fill  up  the  ground ; 

But  spirits  wing  about  and  wait  on  us. 

While  yet  the  hour  of  enchantment  is. 

And  while  we  keep  in  we  are  safe,  and  can 

Force  them  to  do  our  bidding.     And  he  raised 

The  rebel  in  himself,  and  in  his  mind 

Walked  with  him  through  the  world. 

Student.  He  wTote  of  this  ] 

Festus.     He  wrote  a  poem. 

Student.  What  was  said  of  it  ? 

Festus.     Oh,    much  was    said  —  much    more    than 
understood ; 


428 


FESTUS, 


One  said,  that  he  was  mad ;    another,  wise ; 
Another,  wisely  mad.     The  book  is  there. 
Judge  thou  among  them. 

Student.  Well,  but  who  said  what  ? 

Festus.     Some  said  that  he  blasphemed ;  and  these 
men  lied 
To  all  eternity,  unless  such  men 
Be  saved,  when  God  shall  raze  that  lie  from  life 
And  from  His  own  eternal  memory: 
But  still  the  word  is  lied ;  though  it  were  writ 
In  honey  dew  upon  a  lily  leaf. 
With  quill  of  nightingale,  like  love  letters 
From  Oberon  sent  to  the  bright  Titania, 
Fairest  of  all  the  fays  —  for  that  he  used 
The  name  of  God  as  spirits  use  it,  barely. 
Yet  surely  more  sublime  in  nakedness. 
Statue-like,  than  in  a  whole  tongue  of  dress. 
Thou  knowest,  God !  that  to  the  full  of  worship 
All  things  are  worshipful;   and  Thy  great  name, 
In  all  its  awful  brevity,  hath  nought 
Unholy  breeding  in  it,  but  doth  bless 
Rather  the  tongue  that  utters  it:   for  me, 
I  ask  no  higher  office  than  to  fling 
My  spirit  at  Thy  feet,  and  cry  Thy  name, 
God!  through  eternity.     The  man  who  sees 
Irreverence  in  that  name  must  have  been  used 
To  take  that  name  in  vain,  and  the  same  man 
Would  see  obscenity  in  pure  white  statues. 


FESTUS.  429 

Call  all  things  by  their  names.     Hell,  call  thou  hell ; 
Archangel,  call  archangel ;  and  God,  God. 

Student.     And  what  said  he  of  such  ? 

Festus.  He  held  his  peace 

A  season,  as  a  tree  its  sap  till  spring, 
Preparing  to  unfold  itself,  and  let 
All  rigor  do  its  worst,  which  only  served 
To  harden  him,  though  nothing  nesh  at  first. 
And  then  he  said  at  last,  what,  at  the  first, 
He  deemed  would  have  been  seen  by  other  men. 
By  men,  at  least,  above  low-water  mark, 
Who  take  it,  they  lead  others ;  that  it  is  they 
Who  set  their  shoulders  to  the  stalled  world's  wheel 
And  give  it  a  hitch  forwards. 

Helen.  There  were  some 

Encouraged  him  with  good  will,  surely  1 

Festus.  Many. 

The  kind,  the  noble,  and  the  able  cheered  him ; 
The  lovely,  likewise :  others  knew  he  nought  of. 
And  yet  he  loved  not  praise,  nor  sighed  for  fame. 
Men's  praise  begets  an  awe  of  one's  own  self 
Within  us,  till  we  fear  our  heart,  lest  it. 
Magician-like,  show  more  than  we  can  bear. 
Nor  was  he  fameless  ;  but  obscurity 
Hath  many  a  sacred  use.      The  clouds  which  hide 
The  mental  mountains  rising  nighest  Heaven 
Are  full  of  finest  lightning,  and  a  breath 
Can  give  those  gathered  shadows  fearful  life, 
.\nd  launch  their  light  in  thunder  o'er  the  world. 


430  FESTUS. 

Student.     And  thought  he  well  of  that  he  wrote? 

Festus.  Perchance. 

Perchance  we  suffer,  and  perchance  succeed. 
Perchance  he  would  his  tongue  had  perished  ere 
It  uttered  half  he  said,  from  childhood  up 
To  manhood,  and  so  on ;  for  much  I  heard 
From  him  required  expiation,  much 
Soul  sacrifice  and  penance  for  heart-deeds 
Which  passion  had  accomplished  ;  yea,  perchance, 
He  wished,  how  vain  !  that  fruitful  heart  and  breast 
Had  withered  like  a  witch's  ere  he  had  trained 
The  parasites  of  feeling  that  he  did 
About  it;  and  perchance,  for  all  I  know, 
He  would  his  brain  had  died  ere  it  conceived 
One  half  the  thought-seeds  that  took  life  in  it, 
And  in  his  soul's  dark  sanctuary  dwelt. 
Yet  his  blue  eye's  dark  ball  grew  greater  with 
Delight,  and  darker,  as  he  viewed  the  things 
He  made ;  not  monsters  outside  of  the  fane. 
Grinning  and  howling,  but  seraphic  forms  — 
Embodied  thoughts  of  worship,  wisdom,  love, 
Joining  their  fire-tipped  wings  across  the  shrine 
Where  his  heart's  relics  lay,  and  where  were  wrouglit 
Immortal  miracles  upon  men's  minds. 

Student.     Take  up  the  book,  and   if  thou  under- 
standest, 
Unfold  it  to  me. 

Festus.  What  I  can,  I  will. 

Well  I  remember  me  of  thee,  poor  book! 


FESTUS.  431 

But  there  is  consolation  e'en  for  thee. 

Fair  hands  have  turned  thee  over,  and  bright  eyes 

Sprinkled  their  sparkles  o'er  thee  with  their  prayers. 

The  poet's  pen  is  the  true  divining  rod 

Which  trembles  towards  the  inner  founts  of  feeling; 

Bringing  to  light  and  use,  else  hid  from  all, 

The  many  sweet,  clear  sources  which  we  have 

Of  good  and  beauty  in  our  own  deep  bosom ; 

And  marks  the  variations  of  all  mind. 

As  does  the  needle  an  air-investing   storm's. 

Student.     How  does    the   book   begin,  go  on,  and 
end? 

Festus.     It   has    a    plan,  but   no    plot.     Life  hath 
none. 

Helen.     Tell    us,    love ;    we  will    listen,    and    not 
speak. 
I  wish  I  understood  it,  for  I  know 
You  would  rather  hear  me  than  yourselves  talk. 

Student.  Surely. 

I'd  give  up  half  the  organs  in  my  head, 
Besides  all  undiscovered  faculties. 
To  list  to  such  a  lecturer ;  and  then 
Have  quite  enough,  perhaps,  to  comprehend. 

Helen.     'Twere   needless    that,   to    one    half-witted 
now. 

Festus.     There  is  a  porch,  wherefrom  is  something 
seen 
Of  the  main  dome  beyond.     Though  shadows  cross 
Each  other's  path,  yet  let  us  go  through  it. 


432  FESTUS. 

And  lo  !  an  opening  scene  in  Heaven,  wherein 

The  foredoom  of  all  things,  spirit  and  matter. 

Is  shown,  and  the  permission  of  temptation  ; 

The  angelic  worship  of  the  Trinity, 

By  God's  name  uttered  thrice ;  the  joys  and  powers 

Of  souls  o'prblest,  and  the  sweet  offices 

Of  warden-angel  told ;  and  the  complete 

Well-fixed  necessity  and  end  of  all  things. 

From  Heaven  we  come  to  Earth,  and  so  do  souls. 

For  next  succeeds  a  soft  and  sunset  scene. 

Wherein  is  shown  the  collapsed,  empty  state 

In  which  all  Avorldly  pleasures  leave  us  ;  youth's. 

Though  natural,  fitful,  unavailing,  struggle 

Against  a  great  temptation  come  unlooked  for: 

And  that  to  sin  is  to  curse  God  in  deed. 

The  soul,  long  used  to  truth,  still  keeps  its  strength, 

Though  plunged  upon  a  sudden  'mid  the  false ; 

As  hands,  thrust  into  a  dark  room,  retain 

Their  sunlent  light  a  season.     So  with  this. 

The  lines  have  under  meanings,  and  the  scene 

Of  self-forge tfulness  and  indecision 

Breaks  off,  not  ends.     A  starry,  stirless  night 

Follows,  which  shadows  out  youth's  barren  longings 

For  goodness,  greatness,  marvels,  mysteries. 

AVhence  comes  this  dream  of  immortality. 

And  the  resurgent  essence  1     Let  us  think! 

What  mean  we  by  the  dead  1     The  dead  have  life, 

The  changed ;  and,  if  they  come,  it  is  to  show 

Their  change  is  for  the  better.     The  bait  takes. 


FESTUS.  433 

Man  and  his  foe  shake  hands  upon  their  bargain. 
The  youth  sets  out  for  joy,  and,  'neath  the  care 
Of  his  good  enemy,  begins  his  course. 
This  they  begin  together,  aiding  each 
The  other,  and  abusing  others. 

Helen.  I 

"Was  waiting  for  an  eloquential  pause 
In  this  mysterious,  allegorical. 
Mythical,  theological,  odd  story. 
So  now,  then,  I  shall  ask  myself  to  sing ; 
And  granting  I  agree  to  my  request, 
I  think  you  ought  to  thank  me. 

Student.  That  we  will. 

But  not  just  now. 

Helen.  Oh  !  yes,  now ;  yes,  this  moment. 

I'm  in  the  humor. 

Student.  We  are  not. 

Festus.  Yes,  let  her  ! 

Helen.     What  shall  I  sing? 

Festus.  Sing  something  merry,  love. 

Helen     I  won't :  I'll  sing  the  dullest  thing  I  knoAV  ; 
One  of  thine  own  songs. 

Student.  What  a  compliment ! 

Festus.     Sing  what  thou  lik'st,  then. 

Helen.  No;  what  thou  lik'st. 

Student.  Well, 

Something  about  love,  and  it  can't  be  wrong. 
For  love  the  sunny  world  supplies 
With  laughing  lips  and  happy  eyes. 

55  KK 


434  FESTUS. 

Festus.     And  'twill  be  sooner  over. 

Student.  And  so  better. 

Helen.     Like  an  island  in  a  river 

Art  thou,  my  love,  to  me; 
And  I  journey  by  thee  ever, 

With  a  gentle  ecstasy. 
I  arise  to  fall  before  thee ; 

I  come  to  kiss  thy  feet; 
To  adorn  thee  and  adore  thee, 

Mine  only  one !  my  sweet ! 

And  thy  love  hath  power  upon  me, 

Like  a  dream  upon  a  brain; 
For  the  loveliness  which  won  me. 

With  the  love,  too,  doth  remain. 
And  my  life  it  beautiiieth. 

Though  love  be  but  a  shade. 
Known  of  only  ere  it  dieth, 

By  the  darkness  it  hath  made. 

Was  that  addressed  to  mel 

Student.  Well,  now  resume. 

Festus.     Trial  alone  of  ill  und  folly  gives 
Clear  proofs  of  the  world's  vanities ;  but  little 
Good  comes  of  sermons,  prophecies,  or  warnings. 
Though  from  the  steps  of  an  old  gray  market-cross 
The  devil  is  holding  forth  to  the  faithless.     There 
A  social  prayer  is  offered  up  to  God. 


FESTUS.  435 

The  next  scene  seems  to  promise  fair ;  for  sure 
If  that  there  be  one  scene  in  life,  wherefrom 
Evil  is  absent,  it  is  pure,  early  love. 

Helen.     Alas !    when   beauty  pleads   the   cause  of 
virtue. 
The  chief  temptation  to  embrace  it's  wanting. 

Festus.     a    man    in    love    sees  wonders.     But  not 
love 
Makes  the  soul  happy :  so  the  youth  gets  hopeless. 
To  this  comes  on  a  stern  and  stormy  quarrel 
'Tween  the  two  foe  friends  —  Youth  demanding  what 
Cannot  be;  and  the  other  withholding  safe 
And  easy  grants.     They  part  and  meet,  as  though 
Nothing  had  happened,  in  the  next  scene :  none 
Know  how  we  reconcile  ourselves  to  evil. 
Follows  a  rapid  birdseye  view  of  earth, 
A  stirring  up  of  the  dust  of  all  the  nations ; 
True  travellers  they  through  all  the  lands  of  life, 
Moral,  emotional,  or  love's  sunny  zone. 
The  palm-graced  pilgrims  of  truth's  holy  land 
And  universal  season  of  the  sun, 
Who,  taking  pleasure  in  all  reason,  find 
The  science  of  supremest  ultimates. 
And  self-suggestive  wisdom  in  themselves. 
So  through  all  schools,  the  cold  and  gloomy .  porch, 
Massive,  impassive — garden  rose-embowered. 
And  stately  grove  of  lofty  lore  select, 
The  truth-sought  soul  progresses  ;   till  we  find 
Our  home  is  where  she  leads,  and  we  are  guests 


436  FESTUS. 

But  of  our  guide;  the  shrine  she  shows,  herself. 
'J'hen  comes  a  village  feast  ;  a  kind  of  home 
Unto  the  traveller  —  where,  with  the  world, 
We  mix  in  private,  talking  divers  things  ; 
A  country  merry-making,  where  all  speak 
According  to  their  sorts  and  the  occasion. 
Deeper  than  ever  lead-line  went,  behold 
We  search  the  rayless  central  sun  within. 
We  penetrate  all  mysteries,  but  are 
Unfitted  long  to  dwell  in  the  recess 
Of  our  own  nature,  and  we  long  for  light. 
True  aspiration  riseth  from  research. 
Next,  by  the  o'erthrown  altar  of  a  fane. 
Foundation-shattered,  like  the  ripened  heart. 
We  find  ourselves  in  worship.     Let  us  hope 
The  spirit,  form,  and  offering,  grateful  all. 
Stone,  pyramid,  tower,  obelisk,  fane,  spire. 
Temple,  and  circular  city,  to  one  truth. 
Fountain  and  river,  and  the  sun-searched  depths 
Of  all-accepting  ocean,  testify. 
In  one  of  .Earth's  head  cities,  after  this, 
We  tower-like  rise,  and  with  an  eminent  eye 
Glance  round  society,  insatiate ;  — 
The  high  unknown  as  yet  unrealized. 
In  less  time  than  the  twinkling  of  a  star, 
Insphered  in  air,  the  arch-fiend  and  the  youth. 
Like  twilight  and  midnight,  discourse  and  rise. 
Thence  to  another  planet,  for  the  book, 
Stream-like,  doth  steal  the  images  of  stars, 


FESTUS.  437 

And  trembles  at  its  boldness,  where  we  meet 

The  spirit  of  the  first  night  of  temptation, 

And  mix  with  many  of  those  lofty  musings 

Which  sow  in  us  the  seeds  of  higher  kind 

And  brighter  being.     Heavenly  poesy, 

Which  shines  among  the  powers  of  the  mind. 

As  that  bright  star  she  dwells  in,  'mid  the  worlds 

Which  make  the  system  of  the  sun,  is  there  too. 

But    these    high    things    are    lost,  and    drowned,  and 

dimmed, 
Like  a  blue  eye  in  tears,  that  trickle  from  it 
Like  angels  leaving  Heaven  on  their  errands 
Of  love,  behind  them,  in  the  scene  succeeding ;  — 
A  scene  of  song,  and  dance,  and  mirth,  and  wine. 
And  damsels,  in  whose  lily  skin  the  blue 
Veins  branch  themselves  in  hidden  luxury, 
Hues  of  the  heaven  they  seem  to  have  vanished  from. 
Mere  joys ;  but  saddened  and  sublimed  at  close 
By  sweet  remembrance  of  immortal  ones 
Once  loved,  aye  hallowed.     Still,  in  scenes  like  this, 
Youth  lingers  longest,  drawing  out  his  time 
As  a  goldbeater  does  his  wire,  until 
'Twould  reach  round  earth. 

Student.  And  be  of  no  use  then. 

Festus.     Blame  not  the  bard  for  showing  this,  but 
mind 
He  wrote  of  youth  as  passionate  genius. 
Its  flights  and  follies  —  both  its  sensual  ends 
And  common  places.     To  behold  an  eagle 


438  FESTUS. 

Batting  the  sunny  ceiling  of  the  world 

With  his  dark  wings,  one  well  might  deem  his  heart 

On  Heaven ;  but,  no !  it  is  fixed  on  flesh  and  blood, 

And  soon  his  talons  tell  it.     Pass  we  on ! 

A  brief  and  solemn  parley  o'er  a  grave 

Follows,  in  which  youth  vows  to  trust  in  God, 

Be  the  end  what  it  may.     A  prescient  view 

Of  what  is  true  repentance  to  the  soul, 

Spirit-informed,  expands  ;    and  over  all 

The  spiritual  harmonies  of  Heaven 

By  the  raised  soul  are  heard,  and  God's  great  rule 

To  creatures  justified.     And  next  we  find 

Ourselves  in  Heaven.     Even  man's  deadly  life 

Can  be  there,  by  God's  leave.     Once  brought  to  God, 

The  soul's  foredoom  is  set  before  it  brightly, 

And  Heaven's  designs  are  seen  to  be  brought  to  bear. 

Ill  that  bright  state  shall  God's  will  be  our  own. 

And  our  will  what  we  will,  and  faith  be  choice, 

The  rule  which  reconciles  all  contraries, 

Sets  free  necessity  and  sanctifies. 

Whereto  let  both  prophetic  past  attest, 

And  self-fulfilling  future  of  all  joy. 

A  lightning  revelation  of  the  Heavens, 

And  what  is  in  them.     Let  it  not  be  said 

He  sought  his  God  in  the  self-slayer's  way, 

Whose  highest  aim  was  but  to  worship  in 

All  humbleness;  for  lie  was  called  thereto, 

To  show  the  holy  God,  in  three  scenes,  first 

And  last  in  Threelihood,  and  midst  in  One: 


F EST US.  439 

Although  less  hard  to  shape  the  wide- winged  wind 
O'er  the  bright  heights  of  air.     He  will  forgive : 
For  we,  this  moment,  and  all  living  souls  — 
All  matter,  are  as  much  within  His  presence, 
And  known  through,  like  a  glass  film  in  the  sun, 
As  we  can  ever  be.     Another  scene 
Of  natural  luxury,  and  joy,  and  love. 

Helen.      Moonlight    and    music,    and    kisses,    and 
wine. 
And  beauty  which  must  be  for  rhyme-sake  divine; 
Went  it  not  so,  I  pray  ] 

Festus.  Through  sundry  worlds 

The  mortal  wends,  returning,  and  relates 
To  her  he  loves  —  and  joyously  they  greet. 
As  boat  by  breeze  and  billow  backed  by  tide  — 
His  bright  experience  of  celestial  homes ; 
Where  spiritual  natures,  kind  and  high. 
Light-born,  which  can  divine  immortal  things, 
Abide,  imbosomed  in  Eternity. 
Something  he  tells,  too,  of  the  friendly  fiend, 
Something  of  ancient  ages,  infant  Earth, 
And  all  maternal  Nature,  God-inspired ;  — 
Secret  inclosing  secret,  like  the  balls 
Of  carved  ivory,  containing  each 
One  than  itself  less,  than  itself  one  more, 
And  like  life's  double  riddle  so  involved 
The  sole  solution  makes  the  mystery. 
To  this  succeeds  a  scene  explaining  much, 
Of  retrospective  and  prospective  cast. 


440  FESTUS. 

Between  the  bard,  his  beauty,  and  his  friend, 

Regarding  soul,  and  heart,  and  intellect. 

Our  story  ties  us  here  to  earth  again. 

And  sea  all  aged — gray  at  once  with  years. 

And  green  with  youth.     Now,  evil  is  in  love; 

And  ever  those  who  are  unhappiest  have 

Their  hearts'  desire  the  oftenest,  but  in  dreams. 

Dreams  are  mind-clouds,  high  and  unshapen  beauties. 

Or  but  God-shaped,  like  mountains,  which  contain 

Much  and  rich  matter ;    often  not  for  us, 

But  for  another.     Dreams  are  rudiments 

Of  the  great  state  to  come.     We  dream  what  is 

About  to  happen  to  us. 

Helen.  What  may  be 

The  dream  in  this  case? 

Festus.  It  is  one  of  death. 

Helen.     Of  death !  is  that  all  1     Well,  i  too  have 
had  — 
"V^Tiat  every  one  hath  once,  at  least,  in  life  — 
A  vision  of  the  region  of  the  dead  ; 
It  was  the  land  of  shadows :  yea,  the  land 
Itself  was  but  a  shadow,  and  the  race 
Which  seemed  therein  were  voices,  forms  of  forms, 
And  echoes  of  themselves.     And  there  was  nought 
Of  substance  seemed,  save  one  thing  in  the  midst, 
A  great,  red  sepulchre  —  a  granite  grave; 
And  at  the  bottom  lay  a  skeleton. 
From  whose  decaying  jaws  the  shades  were  born; 
Making  its  only  sign  of  life,  its  dying 


FESTUS.  441 

Continually.     Some  were  bright,  some  dark. 

Those  that  were  bright  went  upwards  heavenly ; 

They  which  were  dark  grew  darker,  and  remained. 

A  land  of  change,  yet  did  the  half  things  nothing 

That  I  could  see;  but  passed  stilly  on, 

Taking  no  note  of  other,  mate  or  child ; 

For  all  had  lost  their  love  when  they  put  off 

The  beauty  of  the  body.     And  as  I 

Looked  on,  the  grave  before  me  backed  away ; 

And  I  began  to  dream  it  was  a  dream; 

And  I  rushed  after  it:  when  the  earth  quaked, 

Opened  and  shut,  like  the  eye  of  one  in  fits  ; 

It  shut  to  with  a  shout.     The  grave  was  gone; 

And  in  the  stead  there  stood  a  gleedlike  throne, 

Which  all  the  shadows  shook  to  see,  and  swooned ; 

For  fiends  were  standing,  loaded  with  long  chains, 

The  links  whereof  were  fire,  waiting  the  word 

To  bind  and  cast  the  shadows  into  hell ; 

For  Death  the  second  sat  upon  that  throne. 

Which  set  on  fire  the  air,  not  to  be  breathed. 

And  as  he  lifted  up  his  arm  to  speak. 

Fear  preyed  upon  all  souls,  like  fire  on  paper, 

And  mine  among  the  rest,  and  I  awoke. 

Student.     By  Hades  I  'twas  most  awful. 

Festus.  And  when  kve 

Merges  in  creature-worship,  let  us  mind ; 
We  know  not  what  it  is  we  love:  perhaps 
It  is  incarnate  evil.     In  the  time 
It  takes  to  turn  a  leaf,  we  are  in  Heaven ; 

50 


442  F  EST  us. 

Making  our  way  among  the  wheeling  worlds. 

Millions  of  suns,  half  infinite  each,  and  space 

Forever  shone  into,  forever  dark, 

x\s  God  is,  to  and  by  created  mind. 

Upheld  by  the  companion  spirit.     There 

The  nature  of  the  all  in  one,  and  whence 

Evil ;  the  fixed  impossibility 

Of  creatures'  perfectness,  until  made  one 

With  God;  and  the  necessity  of  ill. 

As  yet,  are  things  all  touched  upon  and  proven. 

The  next  scene  shows  us  hell,  in  the  mad  mock 

Of  mortal  revelry  —  the  quelling  truth 

That  all  life's  sinful  follies  run  to  hell ; 

That  lies,  debauches,  murders  never  die. 

But  live  in  hell  forever  ;  make,  are  hell. 

And  truth  is  there,  too.     Hell  is  its  own  moral. 

Perdition  certain  to  the  unrepentant ; 

Redemption  on  a  like  scale  with  creation ; 

And  all  creation  needing  it,  and  having. 

Then  comes  a  scene  of  passion,  brought  about 

By  the  bad  spirit's  means  for  its  own  ends. 

Whom  we  know  not  when  come,  so  dark  we  grow  ; 

Making  it  but  a  blind  for  further  ill. 

And  then  a  rest  in  light,  as  though  'tween  Earth 

And  Heaven  there  were  a  mediate  spirit  point, 

A  briglit  effect  original  of  God 

Enlightening  all  ways  inwardly  and  round; 

Whence  is  detected  in  the  following  scene. 

Laid  by  the  lonely  seashore,  as  before. 


FESTUS.  443 

Where  the  great  waves  come  in  frothed,  like  a  horse 

Put  to  his  heart-burst  speed,  sobbing  up  hill, 

How  evil  works  his  victim's  death,  to  clear 

His  way,  and  keep  his  name  of  murderer; 

As  he,  in  other  parts,  makes  good  his  titles, 

Deceiver,  liar,  tempter,  and  accuser; 

Hater  of  man,  and,  most  of  all,  of  God. 

In  the  next  scene,  we  picture  back  our  life, 

Contrasting  the  pure  joys  of  earlier  years 

With  the  unsatedness  of  current  sin ; 

xlnd  the  sad  feel  that  love's  own  heart  turns  sick 

Like  a  bad  pearl ;  but  that  the  feeling  still 

Is  adamantine,  though  the  splendid  thing 

Whereon  it  writes  its  record  is  of  all 

Frailest ;  and  though  earth  shows  to  good  and  bad 

The  same  blind  kindness,  beautiful  to  see. 

Wherewith  our  lovely  mother  loveth  us, 

The  w^orld  in  vain  unbosometh  her  beauty. 

We  have  no  lust  to  live ;  for  things  may  be 

Corrupted  into  beauty:  and  that  love. 

Where  all  the  passions  blend,  as  hues  in  white. 

Tires  at  the  last,  as  day  would,  if  all  day 

And  no  night.     So  despair  of  heart  increases. 

The  last  lure  —  power  —  is  proffered,  taken.     All 

Hangs  on  the  last  desire,  whatever  it  be. 

What  follows  is  of  earth,  and  setteth  forth 

God's  mercy,  and  the  mystery  of  sin ; 

And  a  great  gathering  of  the  worlds  round  God, 

Told  by  the  youth  to  his  truthful,  trustful,  love; 


444  F  E  S  T  u  s . 

Who,  light  and  lowly  as  a  little  glowworm, 

Sheddeth  her  beauty  round  her  like  a  rose, 

Sweet-smelling  dew,  upon  the  ground  it  grows  on. 

The  pure  know  evil  by  repulsion,  both 

From  surface  and  from  centre;  the  impure 

By  likeness  and  attraction  to  themselves. 

There  is  instinctive  wisdom  and  acquired. 

A  scene  of  prescient  solitude  and  soul 

Commune  with  Heaven  ;  repentance,  prayer,  faith. 

Which  are  all  things  inspired  alone  of  God, 

Who  signifies  salvation,  follows  this. 

In  the  next  scene,  we  feel  the  end  draw  nigh. 

Nor  power,  nor  knowledge,  love  nor  pleasure  make 

The  Heaven-affianced  spirit  false  to  God ; 

Though  doubt  for  long  may  triumph  and  despair. 

Leave  the  soul  blindfold  on  the  edge  of  hell. 

A  change  is  wrought  on  earth  as  great  as  that 

In  its  first  ages,  when  the  elements. 

Less  gross  and  palpable  than  air,  were  changed 

To  mountainous  and  adamantine  mass, 

Now  'neath  the  feet  of  nations  —  figuring  forth 

The  fateful  mind  which  is  to  govern  all, 

Controlling  the  great  evil ;  for  it  is  mind 

Which  shall  rule  and  be  ruled,  and  not  the  body, 

In  the  last  age  of  human  sway  on  earth  ;  — 

Ambition  ruined  by  its  own  success  ; 

Aims  lost,  power  useless:  love,  pure  love,  the  last 

Of  mortal  things  that  nestles  in  the  heart. 

There  is  a  love  which  acts  to  death,  and  through  death, 


F  E  S  T  u  s .  445 

And  may  come  white,  and  bright,  and  pure,  like  paper 

From  refuse,  or  from  clearest  things  at  first ; 

It  is  beyond  the  accidents  of  life. 

For  things  we  make  no  count  of  have  in  them 

The  seeds  of  life,  use,  beauty,  like  the  cores 

Of  apples  that  we  fling  away; — nought  now 

Is  left  but  trust  in  God,  who  tries  the  heart 

And  saves  it,  at  the  last,  from  its  own  ruin  — 

The  parting  spirit  fluttering  like  a  flag, 

Half  from  its  earthy  staff.      The  death-change  comes. 

Death  is  another  life.     We  bow  our  heads 

At  going  out,  .we  think,  and  enter  straight 

Another  golden  chamber  of  the  King's, 

Larger  than  this  we  leave,  and  lovelier. 

And  then  in  shadowy  glimpses,  disconnect. 

The  story,  flower-like,  closes  thus  its  leaves. 

The  will  of  God  is  all  in  all.     He  makes. 

Destroys,  remakes,  for  His  own  pleasure,  all. 

After  inferior  nature  is  subdued. 

The  evil  is  confined.     All  elements 

Conglobe  themselves  from  chaos,  purified. 

The  re-begotten  world  is  born  again. 

The  body  and  the  soul  cease ;  spirit  lives : 

And  gloriously  falsified  are  all 

Earth's  caverned  prophecies  of  bodyhood. 

Spirits  rise  up,  and  rule,  and  link  with  Heaven ;  — 

The  soul  state  is  searched  into ;  dormant  Death, 

Eiil,  and  all  the  dark  gods  of  the  heart. 

And  the  idolatrous  passions,  ruined,  chained, 


446  FESTUS. 

And  worshipless,  are  seen  ;  and  there,  tlie  Word 

Heard  and  obeyed ;  —  next  comes  the  truth  divine, 

Redintegrative  ;  —  Evil's  last  and  worst 

Endeavor  vanquished  by  Almighty  good. 

The  last  scene  shows  the  final  doom  of  earth, 

Souls'  judgment,  and  salvation  of  the  youth, 

As  was  fore-fixed  on  from  and  in  the  first: 

The  universe  expurgated  of  evil, 

And  hell  for  aye  abolished;  all  create. 

Redeemed,  their  God  all  love,  themselves  all  l^liss. 

Heaven  is  the  birth  of  spirit  and  the  world 

Passed,  embryonic  only  in  its  kind. 

We  may  say  that  the  sun  is  dead  and  gone 

Forever ;  and  may  swear  he  will  rise  no  more ; 

The  skies  may  put  on  mourning  for  their  god. 

And  earth  heap  ashes  on  her  head:  but  who 

Shall  keep  the  sun  back,  when  he  thinks  to  rise  1 

Where  is  the  chain  shall  bind  him  ]     Where  the  cell 

Shall  hold  him '?     Hell  he  would  burn  down  to  embers ; 

And  would  lift  up  the  world  with  a  lever  of  light 

Out  of  his  way:  yet,  know  ye,  'twere  thrice  less 

To  do  thrice  this,  than  keep  the  soul  from  God. 

O'er  earth,  and  cloud,  and  sky,  and  star,  and  Heaven 

It  dwells  with  God  uprisen  as  a  prayer. 

Now,  the  religion  of  the  book  is  this. 

Followed  out  from  the  book  of  God  writ  of  old. 

All  creatures  being  faulty  by  their  nature. 

And  by  God  made  all  liable  to  sin, 

God  only  could  atone  —  and  unto  none 


FESTUS.  447 

Except  Himself — for  universal  sin. 

It  is  thus  that  God  did  sacrifice  to  God, 

Himself  unto  Himself,  in  the  great  way 

Of  Triune  mystery.     His  death,  as  man. 

Was  real  as  our  own ;  and  as,  except 

In  the  destruction  of  all  life,  there  could 

Be  no  atonement  for  its  sin,  while  life 

Doth  necessarily  result  from  God, 

As  thought  and  outward  action  from  ourselves ; 

So  the  atonement  must  be  to  and  by  Him, 

Which  makes  it  justice  equally  with  love; 

For  all  His  poAvers  and  attributes  are  equal. 

And  must  make  one  in  any  act  of  His ; 

And  every  act  of  God  is  infinite. 

He  acts  through  all  in  all:  the  truth  we  know 

He  doth  Himself  inbreathe ;  the  ill  we  do 

He  hath  atoned  for ;  and  the  Scriptures  show 

That  God  doth  suffer  for  the  sins  of  those 

Whom  He  hath  made,  that  are  liable  to  sin. 

In  all  of  us  He  hath  His  agony; 

We  are  the  cross,  and  death  of  God,  and  grave. 

Him  love  then  all  the  more,  and  worship  Him 

Who  lived  and  died,  and  rose  from  death  for  us, 

And  is,  and  reigns  forever,  God  in  all. 

Let  each  man  think  himself  an  act  of  God, 

His  mind  a  thought,  his  life  a  breath  of  God; 

And  let  each  try,  by  great  thoughts  and  good  deeds, 

To  show  the  most  of  Heaven  he  hath  in  him. 

Many  who  read  the  word  of  life  much  doubt 


448  FESTUS. 

Whether  salvation  be  of  grace,  or  faith, 

Election,  or  repentance,  or  good  works, 

Or  God's  high  will:  reconcile  all  of  them. 

Each  of  the  persons  of  the  Triune  God 

Hath  had  His  dispensation,  hath  it  now ; 

The  Father  by  His  prophets,  and  the  Son 

In  his  own  days,  by  His  own  deeds:  and  now 

The  Spirit,  by  the  ministry  of  Christ; 

And  thus  by  law,  by  gospel,  and  by  grace, 

The  scheme  of  God's  salvation  is  complete. 

Salvation,  then,  is  Godlike,  threefold;  so 

That,  under  one  or  other,  all  may  come ; 

By  will  of  God  alone,  by  faith  in  Christ, 

And  by  repentance,  and  good  works,  and  grace. 

So  there  is  one  salvation  of  the  Father, 

One  of  the  Son,  another  of  the  Spirit ; 

Each  the  salvation  of  the  Three  in  One. 

The  mortal  in  this  lay  is  saved  of  will. 

In  manner  as  this  hymn  unfolds,  which  hath 

Just  warranty  for  every  word  from  God's. 

O  God !  Thou  wondrous  One  in  Three, 

As  mortals  must  Thee  deem  ; 
Thou  only  canst  be  said  to  be, 

We  but  at  best  to  seem. 
For  Thou  dost  save,  and  Thou  may'st  slay, 

Canst  make  a  mortal  soul 
In  Thee  eternal ;   in  a  day 

Wilt  bring  to  nought  the  whole. 


FESTUS.  449 

Thou  hardenest,  and  Thou  openest  hearts, 

As  ill  Thy  Word  is  shown ; 
Thou  savest  and  destroyest  parts 

By  Thy  right  will  alone. 
liCt  down  Thy  grace,  then.  Lord!  on  all 

Whom  Thou  wilt  save  to  live; 
Oh !  if  they  stumble,  stop  their  fall ! 

Oh  !  if  they  fall,  forgive ! 

They  are  forgiven  from  the  first ; 

They  are  predestined  Thine ; 
And  though  in  sin  they  were  the  worst, 

In  Thee  they  are  divine. 
They  are,  and  were,  and  will  be,  Lord! 

In  one,  in  Heaven,  in  Thee, 
Yea,  with  the  Spirit  and  the  Word, 

One  God  in  Trinity. 

These  principles  and  doctrines  pending  not 

Upon  the  action  of  the  poem  here. 

But  over  and  above  it,  influencing 

Nevertheless  the  story,  as  the  course 

Of  stars  inwoven  with  our  system,  earth. 

Vary  the  view  of  this  life's  hemisphere. 

And  mingle  it  more  palpably  with  Heaven, 

And  with  its  changeless,  ceaseless,  boundless  God. 

It  is  thus  that  by  creating  to  and  from 

Eternity,  and  multiplying  ever 

His  own  one  Being  through  the  universe, 

57  LL* 


-loO 


K EST us 


He  (loth  eternize  happiness,  and  make 

Good  infinite  by  making  all  in  Him. 

There  is  but  one  great  right  and  good;  and  ill 

And  wrong  are  shades  thereof,  not  substances. 

Nothing  can  be  antagonist  to  God. 

The  Spirit  speaks  of  God  in  Heaven's  own  tongue. 

No  mystery  to  those  who  love,  but  learned 

As  is  our  mother  tongue,  from  Him,  the  parent ; 

By  whom  created,  fashioned,  flesh  and  spirit. 

All  forms  and  feelings  of  all  kinds  of  beauty 

Are  burned  into  our  heart-clay,  pattern-like. 

Much,  too,  is  writ,  elsewhere  and  here,  not  yet 

Made  clear,  nor  can  be  till  earth  come  of  age ; 

Like  the  unfinished  rudiments  of  light 

Which  gather  time  by  time  into  a  star. 

Thus  have  I  shown  the  meaning  of  the  book. 

And  the  most  truthful  likeness  of  a  mind. 

Which  hath  as  yet  been  limned;  the  mind  of  youth 

In  strength  and  failings,  in  its  overcomings, 

And  in  its  short  comings  ;   the  kingly  ends, 

The  universalizing  heart  of  youth  ; 

Its  love  of  power,  heed  not  how  had,  although 

With  surety  of  self-ruin  at  the  end. 

Every  thing  urged  against  it  proves  its  truth 

And  faithfulness  to  nature.     Some  cried  out 

'Twas  inconsistent ;  so  'twas  meant  to  be. 

Such  is  the  very  stamp  of  youth  and  nature; 

And  the  continual  losing  sight  of  its  aims, 

And  the  desertion  of  its  most  expressed 

And  dearest  rules  and  objects,  —  this  is  youth. 


F  EST  us.  451 

Student.     I  look  on  life  as  keeping  me  from  God, 
Stars,  Heaven,  and  angels'  bosoms.     I  lay  ill ; 
And    the    dark,    hot    blood    throbbing   through   and 

through  me ; 
They  bled  me,  and  I  swooned ;  and  as  I  died, 
Or  seemed  to  die,  a  soft,  sweet  sadness  fell 
With  a  voluptuous  weakness  on  my  soul. 
That  made  me  feel  all  happy.     But  my  heart 
Would  live,  and  rose,  and  wrestled  with  the  soul, 
Which  stretched    its  wings   and    strained  its  strength 

in  vain, 
Twining  around  it  as  a  snake  an  eagle. 
Mine  eyes  unclosed  again,  and  I  looked  up, 
And  saw  the  sweet,  blue  twilight,  and  one  star, 
One  only  star  in  Heaven ;  and  then  I  wished 
That  I  had  died  and  gone  to  it ;  and  straight 
Was  glad  I  lived  again,  to  love  once  more. 
And  so  our  souls  turn  round  upon  themselves, 
Like  orbs  upon  their  axles:  what  was  night 
Is  day;  what  day,  night.     God  will  guide  us  on, 
Body  and  soul,  through  life  and  death,  to  judgment. 
Festus.     Earth  hath  her  deserts  mixed  with  fruitful 

plains  ; 
The  work  of  God  is  barren  in  some  parts  ; 
A  rose  is  not  all  flower,  but  hath  much 
Which  is  of  lower  beauty,  yet  like  needful ; 
And  he  who  in  great  makings  doth  like  these, 
Doth  only  that  which  is  most  natural. 
lAke  life,  too,  it  is  boundlessly  unequal, 


452  FESTUS. 

Now  soaring,  and  now  grovelling .  at  one  time 

All  harmony,  and  then  again  all  harshness, 

With  an  ever-changing  style  of  thought  and  speech. 

The  work  is  still  consistent  with  itself; 

As  one  part  often  bears  upon  another, 

liifting  it  to  the  light,  where  most  it  needs. 

The  thoughts  we  have  of  men  are  bold  as  men ; 

Our  thoughts  of  God  are  thin  and  fleet  as  ghosts ; 

But  it  was  not  his  meaning  to  draw  men, 

Such  as  he  heard  they  were  in  the  old  world 

And  sometimes  mixed  with ;  he  blessed  God  he  knew 

But  little  of  the  world,  that  little  good ; 

While  some  sighed  out  that  little  was  its  all. 

So  for  the  persons  and  the  scenes  he  drew, 

Oft  in  a  dim   and  dreamy  imagery 

Shapen,  half  shapen,  misshapen,  unshapen, 

They  are  the  shadowy  creatures  which  youth  dreams 

Live  in  the  world  embodied,  but  are  not. 

Save  in  the  mind's,  which  is  the  mightier  one. 

They  are  the  names  of  things  which  we  believe  in. 

Ideas  not  embodied,  alas,  not ! 

And  the  sad  fate  which  many  of  those  meet 

Whom  the  youth  loves  and  quits,  means  nought  so  ill 

As  the  betrayer's  sin,  salvationless 

Almost :  it  is  but  desertion,  not  betrayal ; 

And  forced  on  him  according  to  a  promise 

Made  at  the  first  unto  him,  and  to  be 

Wrought  out  in  brief  time ;    and  the  same  fair  souls 

Saved,  stand  for  our  desires  made  pure  in  Heaven. 


TEST  us.  4o3 

Let  us  work  out  our  natures  ;  we  can  do 

No  wrong  in  them,  —  they  are  divine,  eterne : 

I  follow  my  attraction,  and  obey 

Nature,  as  earth  does,  circling  round  her  source 

Of  life  and  light,  and  keeping  true  in  Heaven, 

Though  not  perfect  in  round,  which  nothing  is. 

'Twas  the  heart-book  of  love,  well  nigh  all  grief; 

For  the  heart  leaves  its  likeness  best  in  that 

O'erwhelming  sorrow  which'  burns  up  and  buries. 

Like  to  the  eloquent  impression  left 

In  lava,  of  Pompeian  maiden's  bosom. 

All  passions,  and  all  pleasures,  and  all  powers 

Of  man's  heart,  are  brought  in,  and  mind  and  frame. 

He  made  this  work  the  business  of  his  life; 

It  was  his  mission,  and  was  laid  on  him. 

He  was  a  laborer  on  the  ways  of  God, 

And  had  his  hire  in  peace,  and  power  to  work. 

He  wrote  it  not  in  the  contempt  of  rule, 

And  not  in  hate ;   but  in  the  self-made  rule 

That  there  was  none  to  him,  but  to  himself 

He  was  his  sole  rule,  and  had  right  to  be. 

The  faults  are  faults  of  nature,  and  prove  art 

Man's  nature,  that  a  thing  of  art,  like  it, 

Should  be  so  pure  in  kind. 

Helen.  I  do  believe 

The  world  is  a  forged  thing,  and  hath  not  got 
The  die  of  God  upon  it.     It  will  not  pass 
In  Heaven,  I  tell  ye. 

Student.  How  shouldst  thou  know  auglit 

Of  Heaven,  unless  by  contrast] 


454  FESTUS. 

Festus.  Pray  now,  cease; 

Ye  two  are  jarring  ever,  though  as  with 
The  bickering  beauty  of  two  swords,  whose  strife, 
Though  deadly,  maketh  music  I  could  listen. 
Did  not  each  stab,  whichever  way,  pain  me. 

Helen.     Oh,  I  could  stand  and  rend   myself  with 
rage 
To  think  I  am  so  weak,  that  all  are  so ; 
Mere  minims  in  the  music  made  from  us  — 
While  I  would  be  a  hand  to  sweep  from  end 
To  end,  from  infinite  to  infinite, 
The  world's  great  chord.     The  beautiful  of  old 
Had  but  to  say  some  god  had  been  with  them. 
And  their  worst  fault  was  hallowed  to  their  best  deed. 
That  was  to  live.     Could  we  uproot  the  past. 
Which  grows  and  throws  its  chilling  shade  o'er  us. 
Lengthening  every  hour  and  darkening  it; 
Or  could  we  plant  the  future  where  we  would, 
And  make  it  flourish,  that,  too,  were  to  live. 
But  it  is  not  more  true  that  what  is,  is. 
Than  that  what  is  not,  is  not.     It  is  enough 
To  bear  the  ever  present,  as  we  do. 
The  city  of  the  past  is  laid  in  ruins ; 
Its  echo-echoing  walls  at  a  whisper  fall : 
The  coming  is  not  yet  built ;  nor  as  yet 
Its  deep  foundations  laid;  but  seems,  at  once. 
Like  the  air-city,  goodly  and  well  watered. 
Which  the  dry  wind  doth  dream  of  on  the  sands 
Where  he  dies  away  with  his  wanderings : 
While  we  enjoy  the  hope  thereof,  and  perish  ; 


FESTUS.  4.55 

Not  seeing  that  the  desert  present  is 
Our  end. 

Festus.     The  brightest  natures  oft  have  darkest 
End,  as  fire  smoke. 

Student.  I  will  read  the  book,  m  the  hope 

Of  learning  somewhat  from  it. 

Festus.  Thou  mayst  learn 

A  hearty  thanksgiving  for  blessings  here, 
And  proud  prediction  of  a  state  to  come. 
Of  love,  and  life,  and  power,  unlimited ; 
And  uttered  in  a  sound  and  homely  tongue, 
Fit  to  be  used  by  all  who  think  while  speaking. 
With  here  and  there  some  old,  hard,  uncouth  words, 
Which  have  withal  a  quaint  and  meaning  richness, 
As  stones  make  more  the  power  of  the  soil. 
The  world  hath  said  its  say  for  and  against ; 
And  after  praise  and  blame  cometh  the  truth. 
Living  men  look  on  all  who  live  askance. 
Were  he  a  cold,  gray  ghost,  he  would  have  honor; 
And  though  as  man  he  must  have  mixed  with  men. 
Yet  the  true  bard  doth  make  himself  ghost-like ; 
He  lives  apart  from  men ;  he  wakes  and  walks 
By  nights  ;  he  puts  himself  into  the  world 
Above  him ;  and  he  is  what  but  few  see. 
He  knows,  too,  to  the  old  hid  treasure,  truth : 
And  the  world  wonders,  shortly,  how  some  one 
Hath  come  so  rich  of  soul ;  it  little  dreams 
Of  the  poor  ghost  that  made  him.     Yet  he  corner 
To  none  save  of  his  own  blood,  and  lets  pass 


456  FESTUS. 

Many  a  generation  till  his  like 

Turns  up;  moreover,  this  same  genius 

Comes,  ghost-like,  to  those  only  who  are  lonely 

In  life  and  in  desire ;  never  to  crowds : 

And  it  can  make  its  way  through  every  thing, 

And  is  never  happy  till  it  tells  its  secret; 

But  pale  and  pressed  down  with  the  inward  weight 

Of  unborn  works,  it  sickens  nigh  to  death. 

Often  ;  but  who  like  happy  at  a  birth  1 

Student.     Say  what  a  poet  ought  to  do  and  be. 

Festus.     Though  it  may  scarce  become  me,  knowing 
little. 
Yet  what  I  have  thought  out  upon  that  theme. 
And  deem  true,  I  will  tell  thee. 

Helen.  Now  I  know 

You  two  will  talk  of  nothing  else  all  night ; 
So  I  will  to  my  music.     Sweet !  I  come. 
Art  thou  not  glad  to  see  me  1     What  a  time 
Since  I  have  touched  thine  eloquent,  white  fingers. 
Hast  thou  forgot  me  ]     Mind,  now  !      Knowest  thou 

not 
My  greeting]     Ah!  I  love  thee.     Talk  away! 
Never  mind  me ;  I  shall  not  you. 

Student.  Agreed ! 

Helen.      By   the   sweet    muse   of  music,    I    could 
swear 
I  do  believe  it  smiles  upon  me ;  see  it 
Full  of  un uttered  music,  like  a  bird  ; 
Rich  in  invisible  treasures,  like  a  bud 


FES  T  us.  457 

Of  unborn  sweets,  and  thick  about  the  heart 
With  ripe  and  rosy  beauty  —  full  to  trembling. 
I  love  it  like  a  sister.     Hark!  —  its  tones; 
They  melt  the  soul  within  one  like  a  sword, 
Albeit  sheathed,  by  lightning.     Talk  to  me. 
Lovely  one !     Answer  me,  thou  beauty ! 

Student.  Hear  her! 

Festus.     Experience  and  imagination  are 
Mother  and  sire  of  song  —  the  harp  and  hand. 
The  bard's  aim  is  to  give  us  thoughts :  his  art 
Lieth  in  giving  them  as  bright  as  may  be. 
And  even  when  their  looks  are  earthy,  still 
If  opened,  like  geoids,  they  may  be  found 
Full  of  all  sparkling,  sparry  loveliness. 
They    should   be  wrought,    not    cast ;    like    tempered 

steel. 
Burnt  and  cooled,  burnt  again,  and  cooled  again. 
A  thought  is  like  a  ray  of  light  —  complex 
In  nature,  simple  only  in  effect. 

Words  are  the  motes  of  thought,  and  nothing  more. 
Words  are  like  sea-shells  on  the  shore ;  they  show 
Where  the  mind  ends,  and  not  how  far  it  has  been. 
Let  every  thought,  too,  soldier-like,  be  stripped. 
And  roughly  looked  over.     The  dress  of  words, 
Like  to  the  Homan  girl's  enticing  garb. 
Should  let  the  play  of  limb  be  seen  through  it, 
And  the  round,  rising  form.     A  mist  of  words, 
Like  haloes  round  the  moon,  though  they  enlarge 
The  seeming  size  of  thoughts,  make  the  light  less 

58  M  M 


hlS  F  EST  US. 

Doubly.     It  is  the  thought  writ  down  we  want, 
Not  its  effect  —  not  likenesses  of  likenesses. 
And  such  descriptions  are  not,  more  than  gloves 
Instead  of  hands  to  shake,  enough  for  us. 
As  in  the  good  the  fair ;  simplicity 
Is  nature's  first  step,  and  the  last  of  art. 

Student.     But  is  the  power  —  is  poesy  inborn. 
Or  is  it  to  be  gained  by  art  or  toil  ] 

Festus.     It    is    underived,  except    from    God ;    but 
where 
Strongest,  asks  most  of  human  care  and  aid. 
Great  bards  toil  much  and  most;  but  most  at  first. 
Ere  they  can  learn  to  concentrate  the  soul 
For  hours  upon  a  thought  to  carry  it. 

Student.     Why,  I   have  sat  for  hours    and   never 
moved, 
Saving  my  hands,  clock-like,  in  writing  round 
Day  after  day  of  thought,  and  lapse  of  life. 

Festus.      Many    make    books,    few    poems,    which 
may  do 
Well  for  their  gains,  but  they  do  nought  for  truth. 
Nor  man,  true  bard's  main  aim.     Perish  the  books. 
But  the  creations  live.     Some  steal  a  thought. 
And  clip  it  round  the  edge,  and  challenge  him 
Whose  'twas  to  swear  to  it.     To  serve  things  thus. 
Is  as  foul  witches  to  cut  up  old  moons 
Into  new  stars.     Some  never  rise  above 
A  pretty  fault,  like  faulty  dahlias; 
And  of  whose  best  things  it  is  kindly  said, 


FESTUS. 


450 


The  thought  is  fair ;  but,  to  be  perfect,  wants 

A  little  heightening,  like  a  pretty  face 

With  a  low  forehead.     Do  thou  more  than  such, 

Or  else  do  nothing.     And  in  poetry, 

There  is  a  poet-worship,  one  of  other 

Wliich  is  idolatry,  and  not  the  true 

Love-service  of  the  soul  to  God,  which  hath 

Alone  of  His  inbreathing,  and  is  rendered 

Unto  Him,  from  the  first,  without  man's  mean. 

By  those  whom  He  makes  worthy  of  His  worship ; 

A^Tio  kneel  at  once  to  Him,  and  at  no  shrine. 

Save  in  the  world's  wide  ear,  do  they  confess  them 

Of  faults  which  are  all  truths ;   and  thorough  which, 

As  the  world  says  them  over  to  itself. 

He  heareth  and  absolveth;  for  the  bard 

Speaks  but  what  all  feel  more  or  less  within 

The  heart's  heart,  and  the  sin  confessed  is  done 

Away  with,  and  forever. 

Student.  What  of  style? 

Festus.      There  is  no   style    is    good   but  nature's 
style. 
And  the  great  ancients'  writings,  beside  ours. 
Look  like  illuminated  manuscripts 
Before  plain  press  print ;  all  had  different  minds, 
And  followed  only  their  own  bents:  for  this 
Nor  copied  that,  nor  that  the  other;  each 
Is  finished  in  his  writing,  each  is  best 
For  his  own  mind,  and  that  it  was  upon  ; 
And  all  have  lived,  are  living,  and  shall  live; 


460  FESTUS. 

But  these  have  died,  are  dying,  and  shall  die ; 

Yea,  copyists  shall  die,  spark  out  and  out. 

Minds  which  combine  and  make  alone  can  tell 

The  bearings  and  workings  of  all  things 

In  and  upon  each  other.     All  the  parts 

Of  nature  meet  and  fit :  wit,  wisdom,  worth, 

Goodness  and  greatness ;  to  sublimity 

Beauty  arises,  like  a  planet  world. 

Laboring  slowly,  seemingly,  up  Heaven  ; 

But  with  an  infinite  pace  to  some  immortal  eyes. 

And  he  who  means  to  be  a  great  bard  must 

Measure  himself  against  pure  mind,  and  fling 

His  soul  into  a  stream  of  thought,  as  will 

A  swimmer  hurl  himself  into  the  water. 

But  never  swimmer  on  the  stream,  nor  bird 

On  wind,  feels  half  so  strong,  or  swift,  or  glad, 

As  bard  borne  high  on  his  mind  above  himself: 

As  though  he  should  begin  a  lay  like  this. 

Where  spiritual  element  is  all; 

Thought    chafing    thought,  as    bough   bough,  till   «li 

burn. 
Like  the  star-written  prophecies  of  Heaven. 
The  shattered  shadow  of  eternity 
Upon  the  troubled  world,  even  as  the  sun 
Shows  brokenly  on  wavy  waters,  time; 
All  time  is  but  a  second  to  the  dead. 
The  smoke  of  the  great  burning  of  the  worlt^ 
Had  trailed  across  the  skies  for  many  an  age, 
And  was  fast  wearing  into  air  away, 


FESTUS.  461 

When  a  saint  stood  before  the  throne,  and  cried  — 

Blessed  be  Thou,  Lord  God  of  all  the  worlds 

That  have  been,  and  that  are,  and  are  to  be ! 

For  Thy  destruction  is  like  infinite 

With  Thy  creation,  just  and  wise  in  both : 

Give  me  a  world.     And  God  said.  Be  it  so : 

And  the  world  was :  and  then  go  on  to  show 

How  this  new  orb  was  made,  and  where  it  shone  ; 

Who  ruled,  abode,  worshipped,  and  loved  therein ; 

Their  natures,  duties,  hopes:  let  it  be  pure, 

Wise,  holy,  beautiful ;  if  not  to  be 

Without  it,  made  so  by  constraint  of  God  — 

Kindly  forced  good:  we  have  had  enough  of  sin 

And  folly  here  to  wish  for  and  love  change. 

Let  him  show  God  as  going  thither  mildly. 

Father-like,  blessing  all  and  cursing  none; 

And  that  there  never  will  be  need  for  them 

That  He  shall  come  in  glory  new  to  Himself, 

With  light  to  which  the  lightning  shall  be  shadow, 

And  the  sun  sadness  ;  borne  upon  a  car 

With  wheels  of  burning  worlds,  within  whose  rims 

Whole    hells    burn,    and   beneath   whose   course    the 

stars 
Dry  up  like  dew-drops.     But  of  this  enough; 
I  mean  that  he  must  weigh  himself  as  he 
Will  be  weighed  after  by  posterity; 
After  us  all  are  critics,  to  a  man. 
AVrite  to  the  mind  and  heart,  and  let  the  ear 
Glean  after  what  it  can.     The  voice  of  great 


462  FESTUS. 

Or  graceful  thoiiglits  is  sweeter  far  than  all 
Word-music ;    and    great    thoughts,   like  great   deeds, 

need 
No  trumpet.     Never  be  in  haste  in  writing. 
Let  that  thou  utterest  be  of  nature's  flow, 
Not  art's  ;  a  fountain's,  not  a  pump's.     But  once 
Begun,  work  thou  all  things  into  thy  work; 
And  set  thyself  about  it,  as  the  sea 
About  earth,  lashing  at  it  day  and  night. 
And  leave  the  stamp  of  thine  own  soul  in  it 
As  thorough  as  the  fossil  flower  in  clay. 
The  theme  shall  start  and  struggle  in  thy  breast. 
Like  to  a  spirit  in  its  tomb  at  rising, 
Rending  the  stones,  and  crying.  Resurrection ! 

Student.     What  theme  remains'? 

Festus.  Thyself,  thy  race,  thy  li/vo, 

The  faithless  and  the  full  of  faith  in  God ; 
Thy  race's  destiny,  thy  sacred  love. 
Every  believer  is  God's  miracle. 
Nothing  will  stand  whose  staple  is  not  love ; 
The  love  of  God,  or  man,  or  lovely  woman  ; 
The  first  is  scarcely  touched,  the  next  scarce  felt, 
The  third  is  desecrated ;  lift  it  up ; 
Redeem  it,  hallow  it,  blend  the  three  in  one 
Great  holy  work.     It  shall  be  read  in  Heaven 
By  all  the  saved  of  sinners  of  all  time. 
Preachers  shall  point  to  it,  and  tell  their  wards 
It  is  a  handful  of  eternal  truth  ; 
Make  ye  a  heartful  of  it:  men  shall  will 


FESTUS.  -tGtJ 

That  it  be  buried  with  them  in  their  hands : 
The  young,  the  gay,  the  innocent,  the  brave, 
The  fair,  with  soul  and  body  both  all  love. 
Shall  run  to  it  with  joy;  and  the  old  man. 
Still  hearty  in  decline,  whose  happy  life 
Hath    blossomed    downwards,    like    the    purple    bell- 
flower. 
Closing  the  book,  shall  utter  loAvlily  — 
Death,  thou  art  infinite ;  it  is  life  is  little. 
Believe  thou  art  inspired,  and  thou  art. 
Look  at  the  bard  and  others  ;  never  heed 
The  petty  hints  of  envy.     If  a  fault 
It  be  in  bard  to  deem  himself  inspired, 
'Tis  one  which  hath  had  many  followers 
Before  him.     He  is  wont  to  make,  unite. 
Believe ;  the  world  to  part,  and  doubt,  and  narrow. 
That  he  believes,  he  utters.     What  the  world 
Utters,  it  trusts  not.     But  the  time  may  come 
When  aii,  along  with  those  who  seek  to  raise 
Men's  minds,  and  have  enough  of  pain,  without 
Suffering  from  envy,  may  be  God-inspired 
To  utter  truth,  and  feel  like  love  for  men. 
Poets  are  henceforth  the  world's  teachers.     Still 
The  world  is  all  in  sects,  which  makes  one  loathe  it. 

Student.     The    men  of  mind    are    mountains,  and 
their  heads 
Are  sunned  long  ere  the  rest  of  earth.     I  would 
Be  one  such. 

Festus.  It  is  well.     Burn  to  be  s^reat. 


464  FESTUS. 

Each  mountain  stands  inspired  as  touching  Heaven. 

Pay  not  thy  praise  to  lofty  things  alone. 

The  plains  are  everlasting  as  the  hills. 

The  bard  cannot  have  two  pursuits:  aught  else 

Comes  on  the  mind  with  the  like  shock  as  though 

Two  worlds  had  gone  to  war,  and  met  in  air. 

Hope  never  greed  from  poesy  ;   as  well 

Search  for  the  fairy  gold  at  the  rainbow^s  foot. 

And  now  that  thou  hast  heard  thus  much  from  one 

Not  wont  to  seek,  nor  give,  nor  take  advice, 

K-emember,  whatsoe'er  thou  art  as  man. 

Suffer  the  world,  entreat  it,  and  forgive. 

They  who  forgive  most  shall  be  most  forgiven. 

Dear  Helen,  I  will  tell  thee  what  I  love 

Next  to  thee  —  poesy. 

Helen.  Can  any  thing 

Be  even  second  to  me  in  thy  love  ] 
Doth  it  not  distance  all  things'! 

Festus.  To  say  sooth, 

I  once  loved  many  things  ere  I  met  with  thee. 
My  one  blue  break  of  beauty  in  the  clouds; 
Bending  thyself  to  me  as  Heaven  to  Earth. 

Helen.     My  love  is  like  the  moon ;  seems  now  to 
grow. 
And  now  to  lessen :  but  it  is  only  so 
Because  thou  canst  not  see  it  all  at  once. 
It  knows  nor  day,  nor  morrow,  like  the  sun; 
Unchangeable  as  space  it  still  shall  be 


FESTUS.  465 

When    yon    bright    suns,    which   are    themselves    but 

sands 
In  the  great  glass  of  Time,  shall  be  run  out. 

Festus.     Man   is   but   half  man  without   woman ; 
and, 
As  do  idolaters  their  heavenless  gods, 
We  deify  the  things  which  we  adore. 

Helen.     Our  life  is  comely  as  a  whole  ;  nay,  more  ; 
Like  rich,  brown  ringlets,  with  odd  hairs  all  gold. 
We  women  have  four  seasons,  like  the  year. 
Our  spring  is  in  our  lightsome,  girlish  days, 
When  the  heart  laughs  within  us  for  sheer  joy, 
Ere  yet  we  know  what  love  is,  or  the  ill 
Of  being  loved  by  those  whom  we  love  not. 
Summer  is  when  we  love  and  are  beloved. 
And  seems  short ;   from  its  very  splendor  seems 
To  pass  the  quickest :  crowned  with  flowers  it  flies. 
Autumn,  when  some  young  thing  with  tiny  hands. 
And  rosy  cheeks,  and  flossy,  tendrilled  locks, 
Is  wantoning  about  us  day  and  night. 
And  winter  is  when  these  we  love  have  perished; 
For  the  heart  ices  then.     And  the  next  spring 
Is  in  another  world,  if  one  there  be. 
Some  miss  one  season,  some  another ;  this 
Shall  have  them  early,  and  that  late ;  and  yet 
The  year  wear  round  with  all,  as  best  it  may. 
There  is  no  rule  for  it ;  but  in  the  main 
It  is  as  I  have  said. 

Festus.  My  life  with  thee 

59 


466  FESTUS. 

Is  like  a  song,  «iih1  tlie  sweet  music  thou, 
Which  doth  accompany  it. 

Student.  Say,  did  thy  friend 

Write  aught  beside  the  work  thou  tell'st  of] 

Festus.  .  Nothing. 

After  that,  like  the  burning  peak,  he  fell 
Into  himself,  and  was  missing  ever  after. 

Student.     If  not  a  secret,  pray  who  was  he  ? 

Festus. 

Scene  —  Garden  and  Bower  hy  the  Sea, 
Lucifer  and  Elissa. 

Lucifer.     Night  comes,  world-jewelled,  as  my  bride 

should  be. 
The  stars  rush  forth  in  myriads  as  to  wage 
War  with  the  lines  of  Darkness ;  and  the  moon, 
Pale  ghost  of  Night,  comes  haunting  the  cold  earth 
After  the  sun's  red  sea-death  —  quietless. 
Immortal  Night!    I  love  thee.     Thou  and  I 
Are  of  one  seed  —  the  eldest  blood  of  God. 
He  makes ;  we  mar  together  all  things  —  all 
But   our    own   selves.      Love    makes    thee   cold    and 

tremble, 
And  me  all  fire.     Do  off  that  starry  robe ; 
Catch  me  up  to  thee.     Let  us  love,  and  die. 
And  weld  our  souls  together.  Night!     But  here 
Cometh  mine  earthly.     My  Elissa !  welcome. 


FESTUS.  467 

Elissa.     Is't  not  a  lovely,  nay,  a  heavenly  eve'? 

Lucifer.     Thy  presence  only  makes  it  so  to  me. 
The  moments  thou  art  with  me  are  like  stars 
Peering  through  my  dark  life. 

Elissa.  Nay,  speak  not  so, 

Or  I  shall  weep,  and  thou  wilt  turn  away 
From  woman's  tears :  yet  are  they  woman's  wealth. 

Lucifer.     Then  keep  thy  treasures,  lady !     I  would 
not  have 
The  world,  if  prized  at  one  sad  tear  of  thine. 
One  tear  of  beauty  can  outweigh  a  world 
Even  of  sin  and  sorrow,  heavy  as  this ; 
But  beauty  cannot  sin,  and  should  not  weep, 
For  she  is  mortal.     Oh!  let  deathless  things 
Alone  weep.     Why  should  aught  that  dies  be  sad  ? 

Elissa.     The  noble  mind  is  oft  too  generous. 
And,  by  protecting,  weakens  lesser  ones; 
And  tears  must  come  of  feeling,  though  they  quench 
As  oft  the  light  which  love  lit  in  the  eye. 

Lucifer.     And  thy  love  ever  hangs  about  my  heart, 
Like  the  pure  pearl  wreath  which  enrings  thy  brow. 
I  meant  not  to  be  mournful.     Tell  me,  now. 
How  thou  hast  passed  the  hours  since  last  we  met  ] 

Elissa.     I  have  staid  the  livelong  day  within  this 
bower,  — 
It  was  here  that  thou  didst  promise  me  to  come,  — 
Watching  from  wanton  morn  to  repentant  eve 
The  selfsame  roses  ope  and  close ;  untired, 
Listening  the  same  birds'  first  and  latest  songs  — 


4(J8  FESTUS. 

And  still  thou  earnest  not.     To  the  mind  which  wait>« 
Upon  one  hour,  the  others  are  but  slaves. 
The  week  hath  but  one  day  —  the  day  one  hour  — 
That  hour  of  the  heart  —  that  lord  of  time. 

Lucifer.     Sweet  one !    I  raced  with  light  and  passed 
the  laggard 
To  meet  thee  —  or,  I  mean  I  could  have  done  — 
Yea,  have  outsped  the  very  dart  of  Death  — 
So  much  I  sought ;  and  were  I  living  light 
From  God,  with  leave  to  range  the  world,  and  choose 
Another  brow  than  His  whereon  to  beam  — 
To  mark  what  even  an  angel  could  but  covet  — 
A  something  lovelier  than  Heaven's  loveliness  — 
To  thee  I  straight  would  dart,  unheeding  all 
The  lives  of  other  worlds,  even  those  who  name 
Themselves  thy  kind ;   for  oft  my  mind  o'ersoars 
The  stars;  and,  pondering  upon  what  may  be 
Of  their  chief  lording  natures,  man's  seems  worst — 
The  darkest,  meanest,  which,  through  all  these  worlds, 
Drags  what  is  deathless,  may  be,  down  to  dust. 

Elissa.     Speak  not  so  bitterly  of  humankind ; 
I  know  that  thou  dost  love  it.     Hast  not  heard 
Of  those  great  spirits,  who,  the  greater  grow, 
The  better  we  are  able  them  to  prize  1 
Great  minds  can  never  cease;  yet  have  they  not 
A  separate  estate  of  deathlessness : 
The  future  is  a  remnant  of  their  life : 
Our  time  is  part  of  theirs,  not  theirs  of  ours ; 
They  know  the  thoughts  of  ages  long  before. 


FESTUS.  469 

It  is  not  the  weak  mind  feels  the  great  mind's  might ; 
None  but  the  great  can  test  it.     Does  the  oak 
Or  reed  feel  the  strong  storm  mosf?     Oh!  unsay 
What  thou  hast  said  of  man  ;  nor  deem  me  wrong. 
Mind  cannot  mind  despise  —  it  is  itself 
Mind  must  love  mind :  the  great  and  good  are  friends ; 
And  he  is  but  half  great  who  is  not  good. 
And,  Oh!  humanity  is  the  fairest  flower 
Blooming  in  earthly  breasts ;  so  sweet  and  pure, 
That  it  might  freshen  even  the  fadeless  wreaths 
Twined  round  the  golden  harps  of  those  in  Heaven. 

Lucifer.     For   thy  sake  I  will  love  even  man,  or 
aught. 
Spirit  were  I,  and  a  mere  mortal  thou, 
For  thy  sake  I  would  even  seek  to  die ; 
That,  dead  or  living,  I  might  still  be  with  thee. 
But  no !  Ill  deem  thee  deathless  —  mind  and  make, 
And  worthier  of  some  spirit's  love  than  mine ; 
Yea,  of  the  first  born  of  God's  sons,  could  he. 
In  that  sweet  shade  thy  beauty  casts  o'er  all. 
One  moment  lay  and  cool  his  burning  soul ; 
Or  might  the  ark  of  his  wide  flood-like  woe 
But  rest  upon  that  mount  of  peace  and  bliss  — 
Thy  heart  imbosomed  in  all  beauteousness. 
Nay,  lady!  shrink  not.     Thinkest  thou  I  am  he  ] 

Elissa.     Thou  art  too  noble,  far.     I  oft  have  wished, 
Ere  I  knew  thee,  I  had  some  spirit's  love ; 
But  thou  art  more  like  what  I  sought  than  man, 
And  a  forbidden  quest,  it  seems ;  for  thou 


470  FESTUS. 

Hast  more  of  awe  than  love  about  thee,  like 
The  mystery  of  dreams  which  we  can  feel, 
But  cannot  touch. 

Lucifer.  Nay,  think  not  so !     It  is  wrong. 

Come,  let  us  sit  in  this  thy  favorite  bower, 
And  I  will  hear  thee  sing.     I  love  that  voice. 
Dipping  more  softly  on  the  subject  ear 
Than  that  calm  kiss  the  willow  gives  the  wave  — 
A  soft,  rich  tone,  a  rainbow  of  sweet  sounds, 
Just  spanning  the  soothed  sense.     Come,  nay  me  not. 
Elissa.     Do    thou    lead    out   some  lay ;    I'll  follow 

thine. 
Lucifer.     Well,  I  agree.      It  will  spare  me  much 
of  shame 
In  coming  after  thee.     My  song  is  said 
Of  Lucifer,  the  star.     See,  there  he  shines  ! 

j  Sin^s, 
I  am  Lucifer,  the  star ; 

Oh !  think  on  me. 
As  I  lighten  from  afar 

The  Heavens  and  thee ! 
In  town,  or  tower. 
Or  this  fair  bower. 

Oh  !  think  on  me  ; 
Though  a  wandering  star, 
As  the  loveliest  are, 
I  love  but  thee. 

Lady!  when  I  brightest  beam, 
Love,  look  on  me! 


FESTUS.  471 

I  am  not  what  I  may  seem 

To  the  world  or  thee ; 
But  fain  would  love 
/       With  thee  above, 

Where  thou  wilt  be. 
But  if  love  be  a  dream, 
As  the  world  doth  deem, 

What  is't  to  mel 

Elissa.     Could  we  but  deem  the  stars  had  hearts, 
and  loved. 
They  would  seem  happier,  holier,  even  than  now; 
And,  ah!  why  nof?  they  are  so  beautiful. 
And  love  is  part  and  union  in  itself 
Of  all  that  is  in  nature,  brilliant,  pure  — 
Of  all  in  feeling,  sacred  and  sublime. 
Surely  the  stars  are  images  of  love : 
The  sunbeam  and  the  starbeam  both  bring  love. 
The  sky,  the  sea,  the  rainbow,  and  the  stream 
And  dark  blue  hill,  where  all  the  loveliness 
Of  Earth  and  Heaven,  in  sweet,  ecstatic  strife. 
Seem  mingling  hues  which  might  immortal  be, 
[f  length  of  life  by  height  of  beauty  went. 
All  seem  but  made  for  love  —  love  made  for  all : 
We  do  become  all  heart  with  those  we  love : 
It  is  nature's  self — it  is  every  where  —  it  is  here. 

Lucifer.     To  me   there   is   but   one   place   in   the 
world. 
And  that  where  thou  art;  for,  where'er  I  be. 


472  FESTUS. 

Thy  love  doth  seek  its  way  into  my  heart, 
As  will  a  bird  into  her  secret  nest : 
Then  sit  and  sing;  sweet  wing  of  beauty,  sing. 
Elissa.      Bright  one!   who  dwellest   in   the  happy 
skies. 
Rejoicing  in  thy  light  as  does  the  brave 
In  his  keen,  flashing  sword,  and  his  strong  arm's 
Swift  swoop,  canst  thou,  from  among  the  sons  of  men, 
Single  out  those  who  love  thee  as  do  I 
Thee  from  thy  fellow-glories'?     If  so,  star. 
Turn  hither  thy  bright  front;   I  love  thee,  friend. 
Thou  hast  no  deeds  of  darkness.     All  thou  dost 
Is  to  us  light  and  beauty:  yea,  thou  art 
A  globe,  all  glory;  thou,  who  at  the  first 
Didst  answer  to  the  angels  which  in  Heaven 
Sang  the  bright  birth  of  earth,  and  even  now, 
As  star  by  star  is  born,  dost  sing  the  same 
With  countless  hosts  in  infinite  delight. 
Be  unto  me  a  moment !     Write  thy  bright 
Light  on  my  heart  before  the  sun  shall  rise 
And  vanquish  sight.     Thou  art  the  prophecy 
Of  light  which  He  fulfils.     Speak,  shining  star  ! 
Drop  from  thy  golden  lips  the  truths  of  Heaven. 
First  of  all  stars,  and  favorite  of  the  skies. 
Apostle  of  the  sun  —  thou  upon  whom 
His  mantle  resteth  —  speak,  prophetic  beauty ! 
Speak,  shining  star,  out  of  the  heights  of  Heaven ; 
Beautiful  being,  speak  to  God  for  man  ! 
Is  it  bec^ause  of  beauty  thou  wast  chosen 


FESTUS.  473 

To  be  the  sign  of  sin  1     For,  surely  sin 

Must  be  surpassing  lovely  when,  for  her, 

Men  forfeit  God's  reward  of  deathless  bliss 

And  life  divine ;  or,  is  it  that  such  beauty. 

Sometimes  before  the  truth,  and  sometimes  after, 

As  is  a  moral  or  a  prophecy. 

Is  ever  warning  1     Why  wert  thou  accorded 

To  the  great  Evill     Is  it  because  thou  art. 

Of  all  the  sun's  bright  servants,  nearest  earth] 

And  shall  we  then  forget  that  Christ  hath  said 

He  is  thyself,  the  light-bringer  of  Heaven? 

Star  of  the  morning!  unto  us  thou  art 

The  presage  of  a  day  of  power.     Like  thee 

Let  us  rejoice  in  life,  then,  and  proclaim 

A  glory  coming,  greater  than  our  own. 

All  ages  are  but  stars  to  that  which  comes, 

Sunlike.     Oh !  speak,  star !     Lift  thou  up  thy  voice 

Out  of  yon  radiant  ranks,  and  I  on  earth. 

As  thou  in  Heaven,  will  bless  the  Lord  God,  ever. 

Hear,  Lucifer,  thou  star!  I  answer  thee. 

Oh!  ask  me  not  to  look  and  love, 

But  bid  me  worship  thee ; 
For  thou  art  earthly  things  above, 

As  far  as  -angels  be : 
Then,  whether  in  the  eve  or  mom 
Thou  dost  the  maiden  skies  adorn, 

Oh !  let  me  worship  thee ! 

60  NN* 


474  FESTUS. 

I  am  but  as  this  drop  of  dew; 

Oh !  let  me  worship  thee ! 
Thy  light,  thy  strength,  is  ever  new, 

Even  as  the  angels'  be: 
And  as  this  dew-drop,  till  it  dies, 
Bosoms  the  golden  stars  and  skies, 

Oh!  let  me  worship  thee! 

But,  dearest,  why  that  dark  look] 

Lucifer.  Let  it  not 

Cloud  thine  even  with  its  shadow :  but  the  ground 
Of  all  great  thoughts  is  sadness  ;  and  I  mused 
Upon  past  happiness.     Well  —  be  it  past ! 
Did  Lucifer,  as  I  do,  gaze  on  thee, 
The  flame  of  woe  would  flicker  in  his  breast. 
And  straight  die  out  —  the  brightness  of  thy  beauty 
Quenching  it  as  the  sun  doth  earthly  fire. 

Elissa.     Nay,  look  not  on  me  so  intensely  sad. 
Lucifer.     Forgive  me:  it  was  an  agony  of  bliss. 
I  love  thee,  and  am  full  of  happiness. 
My  bosom  bounds  beneath  thy  smile  as  doth 
The  sea's  unto  the  moon,  his  mighty  mistress ; 
Lying  and  looking  up  to  her,  and  saying  — 
Lovely!  lovely!  lovely!  lady  of  the  Heavens! 
Oh !  when  the  thoughts  of  other  joyous  days  — 
Perchance,  if  such  may  be,  of  happier  times  — 
Are  falling  gently  on  the  memory 
Like  autumn's  leaves,  distained  with  dusky  gold, 


FESTUS.  475 

Yet  softly  as  a  snowflake ;   and  the  smile 
Of  kindliness,  like  thine,  is  beaming  on  me  — 
Oh !  pardon,  if  I  lose  myself,  nor  know 
Whether  I  be  with  Heaven  or  thee 

Elissa.  Use  not 

Such  ardent  phrase,  nor  mix  the  claim  of  aught 
On    earth  with    thoughts    more    than   with   hopes  of 
Heaven. 

Lucifer.     Hopes,  lady !  I  have  none. 

Elissa.  Thou  must  have.     All 

Have  hopes,  however  wretched  they  may  be, 
Or  blest.     It  is  hope  which  lifts  the  lark  so  high  — 
Hope  of  a  lighter  air  and  bluer  sky; 
And  the  poor  hack  which  drops  down  on  the  flints  — 
Upon  whose  eye  the  dust  is  settling  — 
He  hopes  to  die.     No  being  is,  which  hath 
Not  love  and  hope. 

Lucifer.  Yes  —  one  !     The  ancient  111, 

Dwelling    and    damned    through    all    which    is :    that 

spirit 
Whose  heart  is  hate  —  who  is  the  foe  of  God  — 
The  foe  of  all. 

Elissa.     How  knowest  thou  such  doth  live  1 
Love  is  the  happy  privilege  of  mind  — 
Love  is  the  reason  of  all  living  things. 
A  Trinity  there  seems  of  principles, 
Which  represent  and  rule  created  life  — 
The  love  of  self,  our  fellows,  and  our  God. 
In  all  throughout  one  common  feeling  reigns: 


476  FESTUS. 

Each  doth  maintain  and  is  maintained  by  the  other : 

All  are  compatible  —  all  needful ;  one 

To  life  —  to  virtue  one  —  and  one  to  bliss  ; 

Which,  thus  together,  make  the  power,  the  end, 

And  the  perfection  of  created  being. 

From  these  three  principles  doth  every  deed. 

Desire,  and  will,  and  reasoning,  good  or  bad,  come; 

To  these  they  all  determine  —  sum  and  scheme; 

The  three  are  one  in  centre  and  in  round; 

Wrapping  the  world  of  life  as  do  the  skies 

Our  world.     Hail !  air  of  love,  by  which  we  live ! 

How  sweet,  how  fragrant !     Spirit,  though  unseen  — 

Void  of  gross  sign  —  is  scarce  a  simple  essence. 

Immortal,  immaterial,  though  it  be. 

One  only  simple  essence  liveth  —  God, 

Creator  uncreate.     The  brutes  beneath, 

The  angels  high  above  us,  with  ourselves. 

Are  but  compounded  things  of  mind  and  form. 

In  all  things  animate  is  therefore  cored 

An  elemental  sameness  of  existence ; 

For  God,  being  Love,  in  love  created  all. 

As  He  contains  the  whole,  and  penetrates. 

Seraphs  love  God,  and  angels  love  the  good : 

We  love  each  other ;  and  these  lower  lives. 

Which  walk  the  earth  in  thousand  diverse  shapes, 

According  to  their  reason,  love  us  too : 

The  most  intelligent  affect  us  most. 

Nay,  man's  chief  wisdom's  love-  -  the  love  of  God. 

The  new  religion  —  final,  perfect,  pure  — 


FESTUS.  477 

Was  that  of  Christ  and  love.     His  great  command  — 
His  all-sufficing  precept  —  was't  not  love  1 
Truly  to  love  ourselves  we  must  love  God  — 
To  love  God  we  must  all  His  creatures  love  — 
To  love  His  creatures,  both  ourselves  and  Him. 
Thus  love  is  all  that's  wise,  fair,  good,  and  happy. 

Lucifer.      How    knowest    thou    God    doth    live] 
Why  did  He  not, 
With  that  creating  hand  which  sprinkled  stars 
On  space's  bosom,  bidding  her  breathe  and  wake 
From  the  long,  death-like  trance  in  which  she  lay, — 
With  that  same  hand  which  scattered  o'er  the  sky, 
As  this  small  dust  I  strew  upon  the  wind. 
Yon  countless  orbs,  aye  fixing  each  on  Him 
Its  flaming  eye,  which  winks  and  blenches  oft 
Beneath  His  glance,  —  with  the  finger  of  that  hand 
Which  spangled  o'er  infinity  with  suns. 
And  wrapped  it  round  about  Him  as  a  robe,  — 
Why  did  He  not  write  out  His  own  great  name 
In  spheres  of  fire,  that  Heaven  might  alway  tell 
To  every  creature,  God  1     If  not,  then  why 
Should  I  believe  when  I  behold  around  me 
Nought  scarce,  save  ill  and  woe? 

Elissa.  ■    God  surely  lives! 

Without  God  all  things  are  in  tunnel  darkness. 
Let  there  be  God,  and  all  are  sun  —  all  God. 
And  to  the  just  soul,  in  a  future  state, 
Defect's  dark  mist,  thick-spreading  o'er  this  vale, 
Shall  dim  the  eye  no  more,  nor  bound  survey ; 


478  FESTUS. 

And  evil,  now  which  boweth   being  down 
As  dew  the  gras§,  shall  only  fit  all  life 
For  fresher  growth,  and  for  intenser  day, 
Where  God  shall  dry  all  tears  as  the  sun  dew. 

Lucifer.     Oh  !  lady,  I  am  wretched. 

Elissa.  Say  not  so. 

With  thee,  I  could  not  deem  myself  unhappy. 
Hark  to  the  sea !     It  sounds  like  the  near  hum 
Of  a  great  city. 

Lucifer.  Say,  the  city  earth  ; 

For  such  these  orbs  are  in  the  realms  of  space. 

Elissa.     I  dreamed  once  that  the  night  came  doA\Ti 
to  me ; 
In  figure.  Oh  !  too  like  thine  own  for  truth, 
And  looked  into  me  with  his  thousand  eyes. 
And  that  made  me  unhappy ;  but  it  passed. 
And  I  half  wished  it  back.     Mind  hath  its  earth 
And  Heaven.     The  many  petty,  common  thoughts 
On  which  we  daily  tread,  as  it  were,  make  one. 
And  above  which  few  look ;  the  other  is 
That  high  and  welkin-like  infinity  — 
The  brighter,  upper  half  of  the  mind's  world. 
Thick  with  great  sun-like  and  constellate  thoughts ; 
And  in  the  night  of  mind,  which  is  our  sleep. 
These  thoughts  shine  out  in  dreams.     Dreams  double 

life ; 
They  are  the  heart's  bright  shadow  on  life's  flood  ; 
And  even  the  step  from  death  to  deathlessness  — 
From  this  earth's  gross  existence  unto  Heaven  — 


FESTUS.  479 

Can  scarce  be  more  than  from  the  harsh,  hot  day 
To  sleep's  soft  scenes,  the  moonlight  of  the  mind. 
The  wave  is  never  weary  of  the  wind. 
But  in  mountainous  playfulness  leaps  to  it 
Always ;  but  mind  gets  weary  of  the  world, 
And  glooms  itself  in  sleep,  like  a  sweet  smile, 
Line  by  line,  settling  into  proper  sadness ; 
For  sleep  seems  part  of  our  immortality : 
And  why  should  any  thing  that  dies  be  sadl 
Last  night  I  dreamed  I  walked  within  a  hall  — 
The  inside  of  the  world.     Long,  shroud-like  lights 
Lit  up  its  lift-like  dome  and  pale,  wide  walls. 
Horizon-like ;  and  every  one  was  there : 
It  was  the  house  of  Death,  and  Death  was  there. 
We  could  not  see  him,  but  he  was  a  feeling : 
We  knew  he  was  around  us  —  heard  us  —  eyed  us ; 
But  where  wast  thou  ]     I  never  met  thee  once. 
And  all  was  still  as  nothing ;  or  as  God, 
Deep  judging,  when  the  thought  of  making    first 
Quickened  and  stirred  within  Him  ;   and  He  made 
All  Heaven  at  one  thought,  as  at  a  glance. 
Noise  was  there  none;  and  yet  there  was  a  sound 
Which  seemed  to  be  half  like  silence,  half  like  sound. 
All  crept  about,  still  as  the  cold,  wet  worms. 
Which  slid  among  our  feet,  we  could  not  'scape  from. 
Round  me  were  ruined  fragments  of  dead  gods  — 
Those  shadows  of  the  mystery  of  One  — 
And  the  red  worms,  too,  flourished  over  these,* 
For  marble  is  a  shadow  weighed  with  mind ; 


480  FESTUS. 

Each  being,  as  men  of  old  believed,  distinct 

In  forai,  and  place,  and  power.     But  Oh !  not  all 

The  gathered  gods  of  Eld  could  shine  like  ours. 

Xo  more  than  all  yon  stars  could  make  a  sun. 

But,  truly,  then  men  lived  in  moral  night, 

'Neath  a  dim  starlight  of  religious  truth. 

I  felt  my  spirit's  spring  gush  out  more  clear. 

Gazing  on  these :   they  beautified  my  mind 

As  rocks  and  flowers  reflected  do  a  well. 

Mind  makes  itself  like  that  it  lives  amidst, 

And  on ;  and  thus,  among  dreams,  imaginings, 

And  scenes  of  awe,  and  purity,  and  power. 

Grows  sternly  sweet  and  calm  —  all  beautiful 

With  godlike  coldness  and  unconsciousness 

Of  mortal  passion,  mental  toil ;  until. 

Like  to  the  marble  model  of  a  god. 

It  doth  assume  a  firm  and  dazzling  form, 

Scarcely  less  incorruptible  than  that 

It  emblems :  and  so  grew,  methought,  my  mind. 

Matter  hath  many  qualities ;  mind,  one : 

It  is  irresistible:  pure  power* — pure  god. 

While  wandering  on  I  met  what  seemed  myself: 

Was  it  not  strange  that  we  should  meet,  and  there? 

But  all  is  strange  in  dreaming,  as  in  death, 

And  waking,  as  in  life :  nought  is  not  strange. 

Methought  that  I  was  happy,  because  dead. 

All  hurried  to  and  fro  ;  and  many  cried 

To  each  other  —  Can  I  do  thee  any  good  ] 

But  no  one  heeded :  nothing  could  avail : 


FESTUS.  481 

The  world  was  one  great  grave.     I  looked,  and  saw 
Time   on    his    two    great    wings  —  one,   night  —  one, 

day  — 
Fly,  moth-like,  right  into  the  flickering  sun ; 
So  that  the  sun  went  out,  and  they  both  perished. 
And  one  gat  up  and  spake  —  a  holy  man  — 
Exhorting  them ;  but  each  and  all  cried  out  — 
Go  to  !  —  it  helps  not  —  means  not :  we  are  dead. 
Death  spake  no  word,  methought,  but  me  he  made 
Speak  for  him  ;  and  I  dreamed  that  I  was  Death ; 
Then,  that  Death  only  lived:  all  things  were  mixed; 
Up  and  down  shooting,  like  the  brain's  fierce  dance 
In  a  delirium,  when  we  are  apt  to  die. 
Hell  is  my  heir ;  what  kin  to  me  is  Heaven  1 
Bring  out  your  hearts  before  me.     Give  your  limbs 
To  whom  ye  list  or  love.     My  son.  Decay, 
Will  take  them :  give  them  him.     I  want  your  hearts, 
That  I  may  take  them  up  to  God.     There  came     • 
These  words  amongst  us,  but  we  knew  not  whence; 
It  was  as  if  the  air  spake.     And  there  rose 
Out  of  the  earth  a  giant  thing,  all  earth  ; 
His  eye  was  earthy,  and  his  arm  was  earthy; 
He  had  no  heart.     He  but  said,  I  am  Decay ; 
And,  as  he  spake,  he  crumbled  into  earth. 
And  there  was  nothing  of  him.     But  we  all 
Lifted  our  faces  up  at  the  word,  God, 
And  spied  a  dark  star,  high  above  in  the  midst 
Of  others,  numberless  as  are  the  dead. 
And  all  plucked  out  their  hearts,  and  held  them  in 

61  oo 


482  FESTUS. 

Their  right  hands.     Many  tried  to  pick  out  specks 
And  stains,  but  could  not :   each  gave  up  his  heart. 
And  something  —  all  things — nothing  —  it  was  Death, 
Said,  as  before,  from  air  —  Let  us  to  God! 
And  straight  we  rose,  leaving  behind  the  raw 
Worms  and  dead  gods,  all  of  us  —  soared  and  soared 
Right  upwards, .  till  the  star  I  told  thee  of 
Looked  like  a  moon  —  the  moon  became  a  sun : 
The  sun  —  there  came  a  hand  between  the  sun  and  us, 
And  its  five  fingers  made  five  nights  in  air. 
God  tore  the  glory  from  the  sun's  broad  brow. 
And  flung  the  flaming  scalp  off  flat  to  hell. 
I  saw  Him  do  it ;  and  it  passed  close  by  us. 
And  then  I  heard  a  long,  cold,  skeleton-scream, 
Like  a  trumpet  whining  through  a  catacomb, 
Which  made  the  sides  of  that  great  grave  shake  in. 
I  saw  the  world  and  vision  of  the  dead 
Dim  itself  off- —  and  all  was  life.     I  woke. 
And  felt  the  high  sun  blazoning  on  my  brow, 
His  own  almighty  mockery  of  woe. 
And  fierce  and  infinite  laugh  at  things  which  cease. 
Hell  hath  its  light  —  and  Heaven  ;  he  burns  with  both. 
And  my  dream  broke,  like  life  from  the  last  limb  — 
Quivering ;  so  loath  I  felt  to  let  it  go, 
Just  as  I  thought  I  had  caught  sight  of  Heaven. 
It  came  to  nought,  as  dreams  of  Heaven  on  earth 
Do  always. 

Lucifer.     It  is  time  we  part  again. 

Elissa.      Farewell,    then,   gentle    stars!      To-night, 
farewell ! 


FESTUS.  483 

For  we  all  part  at  once.     It  is  thus  the  bright 

Visions  and  joys  of  youth  break  up  —  but  they 

Forever.     When  ye  shine  again  I  will 

Be  with  ye ;  for  I  love  ye  next  to  him. 

To  all,  adieu !     When  shall  I  see  thee  next  1 

Lucifer.     Lady,  I  know  not. 

Elissa.  Say ! 

Lucifer.  Never,  perchance. 

Elissa.     There  is  but  one  immortal  in  the  world 
Who  need  say — never! 

Lucifer.  What  if  I  were  he  ? 

Elissa.     But  thou  art  not  he;  and  thou  shalt  not 
say  it. 
Stars  rise  and  set  —  rise,  set,  and  rise  again 
In  their  sublime-like  beauty,  through  all  time. 
Why  should  not  we,  too,  ever  meet,  like  them  1 

Lucifer.      I    see    no   beauty  —  feel   no    love  —  all 
things 
Are  unlovely. 

Elissa.  O  Earth!  be  deaf;   and  Heaven! 

Shut  thy  blue  eye.     He  doth  blaspheme  the  world. 
Dost  not  love  me  1 

Lucifer.     Love  thee  ?     Ay !  Earth  and  Heaven 
Together  could  not  make  a  love  like  mine. 

Elissa.     When  wilt  thou  come  again  ]    To-morrow  ] 

Lucifer.  Well. 

And  then  I  cross  yon  sea  ere  I  return ; 
For  I  have  matters  in  another  land. 
Fear  not. 


484  FESTUS. 

Elissa.     When  will  our  parting  days  be  over? 

Lucifer.     Oh!  soon  —  soon!      Think  of  me,  love, 
on  the  waters  ! 
Be  happy!  and,  for  me,  I  love  few  thing  more 
Than  at  night  to  ride  upon  the  broad-backed  billow, 
Seaing  along  and  plunging  on  his  precipitous  path ; 
While  the  red  moon  is  westering  low  away, 
And  the  mad  waves  are  fighting  for  the  stars, 
Like  men  for  —  what  they  know  not. 

Elissa.  Scorner! 

Lucifer.  Saint ! 

Elissa.     The  world  hath  much  that  is  great ;    and 
but  one  sea. 
Which  is  her  spirit;  and  to  her  it  stands 
As  the  mad  monarch  passion  to  the  heart  — 
Fathomless,  overwhelming,  which  receives 
The  rivers  of  all  feeling ;    in  whose  depths 
Lie  wrecked  the  riches  of  all  nature.     God, 
When  He  did  make  thee,  moved  upon  thee  then, 
And  left  His  impress  there,  the  same  even  now 
As  when  thy  last  wave  leapt  from  chaos.  —  Hark ! 
Nay,  there  is  some  one  coming. 

Festus,  entering.  It  is  I. 

I  said  we  should  be  sure  to  meet  thee  here; 
For  I  have  brought  one  who  would  speak  with  thee. 

Lucifer.     Thanks  !  and  where  is  he  1 

Festus.  Yonder.     He  would  not 

Come  up  so  far  as  this. 

Lucifer.  Who  is  if? 


FESTUS.  485 

Festus.  I  know  not 

Who  he  may  be,  or  what ;  but  I  can  guess. 

Lucifer.     Eemain  a  moment,  love,  till  I  return. 

Eltssa.     Nay  —  let  me  leave! 

Lucifer.  Not  yet :  do  not  dislike  him 

He  is  a  friend,  and  —  more  another  time. 

Festus.     I   am   sorry,   lady,    to    have    caused    this 
parting. 
1  fear  I  am  unwelcome. 

Elissa.  We  were  parting. 

Festus.     Then  am  I  doubly  sorry ;  for  I  know 
It  is  the  saddest  and  the  sacredest 
Moment  of  all  with  those  who  love. 

Elissa.  He  is  coming  ! 

So  I  forgive  thee. 

Lucifer.  I  must  leave  thee,  love: 

I  know  not  for  how  long ;  it  rests  with  thee 
If  it  seem  long  at  all.     Eternity 
Might  pass,  and  I  not  know  it  in  thy  love. 

Elissa.     If  to  believe  that  I  do  love  thee  always 
May  make  time  fly  the  fleeter — 

Lucifer.  I'll  believe  it  — 

Trust  me.     I  leave  this  lady  in  thy  charge, 
Festus.     Be  kind  —  wait  on  her  —  may  he,  love] 

Elissa.      Thou    knowest.      I    receive   him   as   thy 
friend 
AVhenever  he  come. 

Festus.  I  ask  no  higher  title 

Than  friend  of  the  lovely  and  the  generous. 

oo* 


486  FESTUS. 

Elissa.     Farewell ! 

Festus.  Lady!  I  will  not  forget  my  trust. 

[^Apart.']     The   breeze  which  curls   the   lake's   bright 

lip,  but  lifts 
A  purer,  deeper   water  to  the  light ; 
The  ruffling  of  the  wild  bird's  wing  but  wakes 
A  warmer  beauty  and  a  downier  depth. 
That  startled  shrink,  that  faintest  blossom-blush 
Of  constancy  alarmed  !  —  Love !  if  thou  hast 
One  weapon  in  that  shining  armory. 
The  quiver  on  thy  shoulder,  where  thou  keep'st 
Each  arrowy  eye-beam  feathered  with  a  sigh ;  — 
If  from  that  bow,  shaped  so  like  beauty's  lip, 
Strung  with   its   string   of   pearls,   thou   wilt   twang 

forth 
But  one  dart,  fair  into  the  mark  I  mean, — 
Do  it,  and  I  will  worship  thee  forever: 
Yea,  I  will  give  thee  glory,  and  a  name 
Known,  sunlike,  in  all  nations.     Heart,  be  still  ^ 

Lucifer.     This  parting  over  — 

Elissa.  Yes,  this  one  —  and  then? 

Lucifer.     Why,  then  another,  may  be. 

Elissa.  No  —  no  more. 

I'll  be  unhappy  if  thou  tell'st  me  so. 

Lucifer.     Well,  then  —  no  more. 

Elissa.  But,  when  wilt  thou  come  back] 

Lucifer.     Almost    before    thou   wishest.     He    will 
know. 

Elissa.     I  shall  be  always  asking  him.     Farewell! 


FESTUS.  487 

Lucifer.     Shine  on,  ye  stars !  and  light  her  to  her 
rest ; 
Scarce  are  ye  worthy  for  her  handmaidens. 
Why,  Hell  would  laugh  to  learn  I  had  been  in  love. 
I  have  affairs  in  hell.     Wilt  go  with  me '? 

Festus.     Yes,  in  a  month  or  two:  —  not  just  this 
minute. 

Lucifer.     I  shall  be  there  and  back  again  ere  then. 

Festus.     Meanwhile  I  can  amuse  myself:  so,  go ! 
But  sometime  I  would  fain  behold  thy  home, 
And  pass  the  gates  of  fire. 

Lucifer.  And  so  thou  shalt, 

My  home  is  every  where  where  spirit  is. 
All  things  are  as  I  meant  them.     Fare  thee  well. 

Festus.     The    strongest   passion  which   I    have,  is 
honor : 
I  would  I  had  none:  it  is  in  my  way. 


Scene  —  Every  where, 
Lucifer  and  Festus. 

Festus.      Why,    Earth    is   in    the    very   midst    of 
Heaven. 
And  space,  though  void  of  things,  feels  full  of  God. 
Hath  space  no  limit  1 

Lucifer.  None  to  thee.     Yet,  if 

Infinite,  it  would  equal  God ;  and  that 
To  think  of  is  most  vain. 


488  FESTUS. 

Festus.  And  yet  if  not 

Infinite,  how  can  God  exist  therein] 

Lucifer.     I  say  not. 

Festus.  No.     So  soon  when  placed  besides 

The  infinite,  the  poor  immortal  fails. 

Lucifer.     Space  is  God's  space:  eternity  is  His 
Eternity;  His,  Heaven.     He  only  holds 
Perfections  which  are  but  the  impossible 
To  other  beings. 

Festus.  We  are  things  of  time. 

LuciF*ER.     With  God  time  is  not.     Unto  Him  all  is 
Present  eternity.     Worlds,  beings,  years. 
With  all  their  natures,  powers,  and  events. 
The  range  whereof,  when  making.  He  ordains, 
Unfold  themselves  like  flowers.     He  foresees 
Not,  but  sees  all  at  once.     Time  must  not  be 
Contrasted  with  eternity :  it  is  not 
A  second  of  the  everlasting  year. 
Perfections,  although  infinite  with  God, 
Are  all  identical;  as  much  of  Him  — 
And  holy  is  His  mercy,  merciful 
His  wisdom,  wise  His  love,  and  kind  His  wrath  — 
As  form,  extension,  parts,  are  requisites 
Of  matter.     Spirit  hath  no  parts.     It  is 
One  substance,  whole  and  indivisible. 
Whatever  else.     Souls  see  each  other  clear 
At  one  glance,  as  two  drops  of  rain  in  air 
Might  look  into  each  other,  had  they  life. 
Death  does  away  disguise. 


FESTUS.  48P 

Festus.  Even  here,  I  feel 

Among  these  mighty  things,  that,  as  I  am, 
I  am  akin  to  God ;  —  that  I  am  part 
Of  the  use  universal,  and  can  grasp 
Some  portion  of  that  reason  in  the  which 
The  whole  is  ruled  and  founded;  —  that  I  have 
A  spirit  nobler  in  its  cause  and  end. 
Lovelier  in  order,  greater  in  its  powers. 
Than  all  these  bright  immensities  —  how  swift ! 
And  doth  creation's  tide  forever  flow. 
Nor  ebb  with  like  destruction  ]     World  on  world, 
Are  they  forever  heaping  up,  and  still 
The  mighty  measure  never  full? 

Lucifer.  To  act 

Is  power's  habit;    alway  to  create, 
God's  ;  which,  thus  ever  causing  worlds,  to  Him 
Nought  cumbrous  more  than  new  down  to  a  wing, 
Aye  multiplies  at  once  my  power  and  pain. 
I  have  seen  many  frames  of  being  pass. 
This  generation  of  the  universe 
Will  soon  be  gathered  to  its  grave.     These  worlds, 
Which  bear  its  sky-pall,  soon  will  follow  thine. 
I,  both.     All  things  must  die. 

Festus.  What  are  ye,  orbs'? 

The  words  of  God  —  the  Scriptures  of  the  skies  ? 
For  words  with  Him  cannot  be  passing,  nor 
Less  real,  vast,  or  glorious  than  yourselves. 
The  world  is  a  great  poem,  and  the  worlds 

62 


490  FESTUS. 

The  words  it  is  writ  in,  and  we  souls  the  thoughts. 
Ye  cannot  die. 

Lucifer.  Think  not  on  death.     Here  all 

Is  life,  light,  beauty.     Harp  not  so  on  death. 

Festus.     I  cannot  help  me,  spirit !     Chide  no  more. 
As  who  dare  gaze  the  sun,  doth  after  see 
Betwixt  him  and  else  a  dark  sun  in  his  eye ; 
So  I,  once  having  braved  my  burning  doom. 
See  nought  beside  —  or  that  in  every  thing. 
Hark,  what  is  that  I  hear? 

Lucifer.  An  angel  weeping  — 

Earth's  guardian  angel.     She  is  ever  weeping. 

Festus.     See  where  she  flies,  spirit-torn,  round  the 
heavens, 
Like  a  fore-feel  of  madness  about  the  brain. 
Angel  of  Earth.     Stars,  stars  ! 
Stop  your  bright  cars  ! 
Stint  your  breath  — 
Repent  ere  worse  — 
Think  of  the  death 
Of  the  universe. 
Fear  doom,  and  fear 
The  fate  of  your  kin-sphere. 
As  a  corse  in  the  tomb, 
Earth !  thou  art  laid  in  doom  — 
The  worm  is  at  thy  heart. 
I  see  all  things  part :  — 
The  bright  air  thicken, 
Thunder-stricken : 


FESTUS.  491 

Birds  from  the  sky 

Shower  like  leaves : 

Streamlets  stop 

Like  ice  on  eaves: 

The  sun  go  blind: 

Swoon  the  wind 

On  the  high  hill  top  — 

Swoon  and  die: 

Earth  rear  off  her  cities 

As  a  horse  his  rider; 

And  still,  with  each  death-strain. 

Her  heart-wound  tear  wider ; 

The  lion  roar  and  die 

With  his  eyeballs  on  the  sky: 

The  eagle  scream 

And  drop  like  a  beam: 

Men  crowd  and  cry, 

Out  on  this  deathful  dream ! 

A  low,  dull  sound  — 

'Tis  the  march  of  many  bones 

Under  ground; 

Up !  and  they  fling. 

Like  a  fly's  wing, 

Off  them  the  gray  gravestones  ; 

They  sit  in  their  biers  — 

Father  and  mother, 

Man  and  wife, 

Sister  and  brother. 

As  in  life ; 


492  FESTUS. 

Lady  and  lover  — 

Love  all  over. 

Their  flesh  re-appears  — 

Their  hearts  beat  — 

Their  eyes  have  tears: 

Woe!  woe! 

Do  they  speak? 

Stir?     No! 

Tongues  were  too  weak. 

Save  to  repeat 

Woe! 

But  they  smile 

In  a  while ; 

For  to  wipe  from  His  word 

The  dust  of  years, 

He  comes!  he  comes!  the  Lord, 

Man-God,  re-appears  ; 

To  bless,  and  to  save 

From  death  and  the  grave  — 

To  redeem  and  deliver 

Forever  and  ever ! 

The  dead  rise  — 

Death  dies. 

Go,  Time,  and  sink 

Thy  great  thoughts  in  the  sea ! 

And  quench  thy  red  link! 

Let  him  flutter  to  rest 

On  thy  God-nursing  breast. 

Eternity ! 


FESTUS.  493 

Mother  Eternity! 
What  is  for  me] 

Festus.     Poor    angel !     Ah !    it    is    the    good  who 
suffer. 
Look !  like  a  cloud,  she  hath  wept  herself  away. 
What  of  this  world  we  view,  and  all  yon  worlds  ? 
If  God  made  not  all  things  from  nothing,  how 
Is  He  creator  ]     Something  must  exist 
If  otherwise,  eternal  with  Himself; 
And  all  things  had  not  origin  in  Him. 

Lucifer.     He  made  all  things  of  Him.     The  visible 
world 
Is  as  the  Christ  of  nature  ;  God  the  maker 
In  matter  made  self-manifest  through  time. 
All  things  are  formed  of  all  things  —  all  of  God. 
The  world  is  made  of  wonders.     Every  day 
Is  born  a  new  creation.     Every  orb 
Hath  its  revealed  word ;  and  every  race 
Of  being  hath  its  judgment,  or  shall  have. 

Festus.     Are   all   these  worlds,  then,  stocked  with 
souls  like  man's  — 
Free,  fallible,  and  sinful  1 

Lucifer.  Ay,  they  are. 

All  creature-minds,  like  man's,  are  fallible. 
The  seraph,  who  in  Heaven  highest  stands. 
May  fall  to  ruin  deepest.     God  is  mind  — 
Pure,  perfect,  sinless.     Man  imperfect  is  — 
Momently  sinning.     Evil  then  results 
From  imperfection.     The  idea  of  good 


494  FESTUS. 

Is  owned  in  imperfection's  lowest  form. 

God  would  not,  could  not,  make  aught  wholly  ill, 

Nor  aught  not  like  to  err.     Man  never  was 

Perfect  nor  pure,  or  he  would  be  so  now. 

Thy  nature  hath  some  excellences  —  these 

Oft  thwarted  by  low  lusts  and  wicked  wills. 

What  then'?     They  are  necessitate  in  kind, 

As  change  in  nature,  or  as  shade  to  light. 

No  darkness  hath  the  sun  —  no  weakness  God : 

These  only  be  the  faulty  qualities 

Of  secondary  natures  —  planets,  men. 

God  hath  no  attributes,  unless  To  Be 

Be  one:  'twould  mix  Him  with  the  things  He  hath 

made. 
God  is  all  God,  as  life  is  that  which  lives. 
I  am  a  mighty  spirit,  and  yet  I 
Am  but  to  God  what  lightning  is  to  light : 
Lightning  slays  one  thing  —  light  makes  all  things  live. 
Bear,  then,  thy  necessary  ills  with  grace : 
No  positive  estate  or  principle 
Is  Evil  —  debtor  wholly  for  its  form 
And  measure  to  defect  —  defect  to  good. 
Good's  the  sole,  positive  principle  in  the  world ; 
It  is  only  thus,  that  what  God  makes.  He  loves  — 
And  must:  the  others  are  but  off-shoots.     Ill 
Is  limited.     One  cannot  form  a  scheme 
For  universal  evil ;  not  even  I. 

Festus.     Can  imperfection  from  perfection  come  ? 
Can  God  make  aught  defective  ? 


FESTUS.  495 

Lucifer.  How  aught  else  1 

There  are  but  three  proportions  in  all  things  — 
The  greater  —  equal  —  less.     God  could  not  make  . 
A  God  above  Himself,  nor  equal  with  — 
By  nature  and  necessity  the  Highest ; 
So,  if  He  make,  it  must  be  lesser  minds  — 
Little  and  less  from  angels  down  to  men, 
Whose  natures  are  imperfect,  as  His  own 
Must  be  all-perfect.     Th^se  two  states  are  not, 
Except  as  whole  unto  its  parts,  opposed ; 
And  evil  is  itself  no  ill  unless 
Creation  be. 

Festus.         Is  God  the  cause  of  CAdl  1 

Lucifer.     So  far  as  evil  comes  from  imperfection. 
And  imperfection  from  the  things  He  hath  made. 
And  what  He  hath  made  from  His  will  to  make. 

Festus.     Oh!   let  me   rest,  be    it    but  a  moment's 
pause ! 
This  endless,  light-like  journey  wearies  me. 
Remember,  still  my  spirit  toils  in  dust  — 
A  dark,  close  cloud. 

Lucifer.  Alight,  then,  on  this  orb. 

I  am  not  wearied :  I  will  watch  by  thee. 
He  sleeps  —  he  dreams.     How  far  men  see  in  dreams  ! 
In  dreams  they  can  accomplish  worlds  of  things : 
The  heart  then  suffers  a  fusion  of  all  feeling 
Back  to  its  youthful  hours  of  innocence. 
And  nakedness,  and  paradise ;  ere  yet 
The  world  had  wound  a  perishing  garb  around  it ; 


496  FESTUS. 

While  yet  its  God  came  down  and  spake  to  it. 
Such  and  so  great  are  dreams.     My  might,  my  being 
To  him  is  but  a  dream's.     And,  could  a  state 
To   come   fill    up   their  dream-stretched   minds,    they 

might 
Be  gods.     And  may  it  not  be  sol     Then  man 
Is  worth  my  ruining.     What  does  he  dream '? 
With  all  the  sway  his  spirit  now  exerts 
O'er  time,  space,  thought,  it  is  but  a  shadowy  sway, 
Light  as  a  mountain  shadow  on  a  lake. 
Mine  is  the  mountain's  self.     A  touch  would  shake 
To  nought  whatever  his  soul  now  feels  or  acts; 
But  not  a  worldquake  could  touch  aught  of  mine : 
Thus  much  we  differ.     I  will  not  envy  man. 
Power  alone  makes  being  bearable. 
And  yet  this  dream-power  is  mind-power — real: 
All  things  are  real :  fiction  cannot  be. 
A  thought  is  real  as  the  world  —  a  dream 
True  as  all  God  doth  know  —  with  whom  all  is  true  ; 
The  deep,  dense  sleep  of  half-dead  exhaustedness ! 
Would  I  could  feel  it.     Ah!  he  wakes  at  last. 

Festus.     Oh !  I  have  dreamed  a  dream  so  beautiful ! 
Methought  I  lay,  as  it  were,  here ;  and,  lo ! 
A  spirit  came  and  gave  me  wings  of  light, 
Which  thrice  I  waved  delighted.     Up  we  flew 
Sheer  through  the  shining  air,  far  past  the  sun's 
Broad  blazing  disk — past  where  the  great  great  snake 
Binds  in  his  bright  coil  half  the  host  of  Heaven, — 
Past  thee,  Orion !  who,  with  arm  uplift, 


FESTUS.  497 

Like  him  the  divine  Evil  of  the  world, 
Threatening  the  throne  of  God,  dost  ever  stand 
Sublimely  impious  ;  and  thy  mighty  mace 
Whirling  on  high,  down  from  its  glorious  seat 
Drops,  crushed  and  shattered,  many  a  shining  world. 
And  so  the  brave  and  beautiful  of  old 
Believed  thou  wast  a  giant,  made  of  worlds : 
And  they  were  right,  if  thus  they  bodied  out 
The  immortal  mind ;  for  it  hath  starlike  beauty^ 
And  worldlike  might ;  and  is  as  high  above 
The  things  it  scorns,  and  will  make  war  with  God, 
Though  He  gave  it  Earth  and  Heaven,  and  arms  to 

win 
Them  both ;  and,  spite  of  lust  and  pride,  to  earn  them. 
And  now  thy  soul  informs  yon  hundred  stars. 
As  mine  my  limbs  —  well,  'tis  a  noble  end. 
What  now  to  thee  be  mortal  maid  or  goddess  1 
Look!  she  who  fled  thee  once  now  loves  and  longs 
To  clasp  thee  to  her  cold  and  beamy  breast 
Pine  moon!  thou  art  as  far  below  him  now 
As  once  she  was  above  thee,  thou  of  the  world-belt ! 
And  she  who  had  thee,  ani  who  knew  thee  god, 
Died  of  her  boast,  and  lies  in  her  own  dust. 
And  she  who  loved  thee,  the  young,  blushy  Morning, 
Who  caught  thee  in  her  arms,  and  bore  thee  off 
Ear  o'er  the  lashing  seas  to  a  lonely  isle, 
Where  she  might  pleasure  longer  and  in  secret  — 
That  love  undid  thee ;  and  it  is  so  now : 
Whether  the  beauty  seek,  or  flee,  or  have, 

63  pp* 


498  FESTUS. 

'Tis  a  like  ill — ^this  beauty  doubly  mortal. 

What  though  the  moon  with  madness  slew  thee  there, 

Let  me  believe  it  was  within  the  arms 

That  loved  thee  even  in  the  stroke,  of  death, 

And  that  there  snapped  the  lightning  link  of  life. 

Kill,  but  not  conquer,  man  nor  mind  may  gods. 

Thou  image  of  the  Almighty  error,  man ! 

Banished  and  banned  to  Heaven,  by  a  weak  world, 

Which  makes  the  minds,  it  cannot  master  gods. 

And  thou,  the  first  and  greatest  of  half-gods, 

Which  they  in  olden  time  did  star  together 

To  an  idolatrous  immortality; 

Who  nationalized  the  skies,  and  gave  all  stars 

Unto  the  spirits  of  the  good  and  brave, 

Forestalling  Heaven  by  ages  —  wondrous  men  ! 

And  if  —  beguiled  by  wine,  and  the  low  wiles 

Thou  wouldst  not  creep  to  meet,  and  a  drunken  sleep, 

Like  to  high  noon  in  the  midst  of  all  his  might. 

Close  by  the  brink  of  immortality  — 

The  deep  dominions  of  thy  sea-sire,  thou 

Didst  lose  thy  light  by  kings  who  hate  the  great, 

Thou  only  hadst  to  st^d  up  to  the  sun. 

And  gain  again  thine  eyes.     So  the  great  king. 

The  world,  the  tyrant  we  elect,  in  vain 

Puts  out  the  eyes  of  mind :  it  looks  to  God, 

And  reaps  its  light  again.     Wherefore,  revenge ! 

Out  with  the  sword !  the  world  will  run  before  thee, 

Orion !  belted  giant  of  the  skies, 

Thou  with  the  treble  strain  of  godhood  in  thee  — 


FESTUS.  499 

March !  there  is  nought  to  hinder  thee  in  Heaven :  — 
Past  that  great  sickle  saved  for  one  day's  work, 
When  He  who  sowed  shall  reap  Creation's  field ;  — 
Past  those  high  diademed  orbs  which  show  to  man 
His  crown  to  come  ;  —  up  through  the  starry  strings 
Of  that  high  harp  close  by  the  feet  of  God, 
Which    He,    me  thought,    took    up    and    struck,    till 

Heaven, 
In  love's  immortal  madness,  rang  and  reeled ; 
The  stars  fell  on  their  faces;  and,  far  off, 
The  wild  world  halted  —  shook  his  burning  mane  — 
Then,  like  a  fresh-blown  trumpet  blast,  went  on. 
Or  like  a  god  gone  mad.     On,  on  he  flew, 
I  and  the  spirit,  far  beyond  all  things 
Of  measure,  motion,  time  and  aught  create  ; 
Where  the  stars  stood  on  the  edge  of  the  first  nothing, 
And  looked  each  other  in  the  face  and  fled, — 
Past  even  the  last,  long  starless  void,  to  God  ; 
Whom  straight  I  heard,  methought,  commanding  thus : 
Immortal !  I  am  God.     Hie  back  to  earth. 
And  say  to  all,  that  God  doth  say  —  Love  God! 

Lucifer.     God  visits  men  a-dreaming :  I,  awake. 

Festus.     And  my  dream  changed  to  one  of  general 
doom. 
Wilt  hear  if? 

Lucifer.  Ay,  say  on  !     It  is  but  a  dream. 

Festus.      God  made  all   mind    and   motion  cease ; 
and,  lo! 
The  whole  was  death  and  peace.     An  endless  time 


500  FESTUS. 

Obtained,  in  which  the  power  of  all  made  failed. 
God  bade  the  worlds  to  judgment,  and  they  came  — 
Pale,  trembling,  corpse-like.     To  the  souls  therein 
Then  spake  the  Maker :    Deathless  spirits,  rise ! 
And  straight  they  thronged  around  the  throne.     His 

arm 
The  Almighty  then  uplift,  and  smote  the  worlds 
Once,  and  they  fell  in  fragments  like  to  spray, 
And  vanished  in  their  native  void.     He  shook 
The  stars  from  Heaven  like  rain-drops  from  a  bough  ; 
Like  tears  they  poured  adown  creation's  face. 
Spirit  and  space  were  all  things.     Matter,  death. 
And  time,  left  even  not  a  wake  to  tell 
Where  once  their  track  o'er  being.     God's  own  light, 
Undarkened  and  unhindered  by  a  sun, 
Glowed  forth  alone  in  glory.     And  through  all 
A  clear  and  tremulous  sense  of  God  prevailed. 
Like  to  the  blush  of  love  upon  the  cheek, 
Or  the  full  feeling  lightening  through  the  eye. 
Or  the  quick  music  in  the  chords  of  harps. 
God  judged  all  creatures  unto  bliss  or  woe. 
According  to  their  deeds,  and  faith,  and  His 
Own  will:  and  straight  the  saved  upraised  a  voice 
Which  seemed  to  emulate  eternity 
In  its  triumphant  over-blessedness. 
The  lost  leaped  up  and  cursed  God  to  His  face  — 
A  curse  might  make  the  sun  turn  cold  to  hear; 
And  thee,  in  all  thy  burning  glory,  tremble, 
In  front  of  all  thine  angels,  like  a  chord. 


FESTUS.  501 

Eage  writhed  each  brow  into  a  changeless  scowl. 
Madly  they  mocked  at  God,  and  dared  His  eye, 
Safe  in  their  curse  of  deathlessness.     To  hell 
They  hied  like  storms ;    and,  cursing  all  things,  each 
Soul  wrapped  him  in  his  shroud  of  fire  for  aye. 
With  one  long,  loud    howl,  which    seemed  to  deafen 

Heaven  — 
And  then  I  woke. 

Lucifer.  A  wild,  fantastic  dream; 

A  mere  mirage  of  mind.     Come,  let  us  leave: 
We  have  seen  enough  of  this  world. 

Festus.  Lift  me  up,  then. 

World  upon  world,  how  they  come  rolling  on! 
But  none  that  I  see  are  so  fair  as  earth: 
There  is  so  much  to  love  that  is  purely  earth. 
Now  I  could  wander  all  day  in  the  wood. 
Where  nature,  like  a  sibyl,  writes  the  fate 
Of  all  that  live  on  her  red  forest  leaves ; 
And  have  no  other  aim  than  wandering 
Within  that  wood,  and  wind  my  arms  around 
Its  gray,  gaunt  trunks,  'and  think  and  feel  to  them ; 
While  the  wind,  sinking,  moans  over  the  earth 
Like  a  giant  over  some  dead  captive  dame, 
Whom  death  hath  saved  from  madness  and  his  love ;  — 
Could  tramp  across  the  brown  and  springy  moor. 
And  over  the  purple  ling,  and  never  tire ;  — 
Could  look  upon  the  ripple  of  a  river, 
Or  on  a  tree's  long  shadow  down  a  hill. 
For  a  whole  summer's  day,  wishing  the  sun 


502  FESTUS. 

Would  drink  my  soul  up  to  him  as  he  draws 
Dew  from  the  earth.     These  things  are  in  my  mind, 
And  suns  and  systems  cannot  drive  them  out, 
Nor  universal  system  of  all  suns. 
Dost  ravage  all  these  worlds  1 

Lucifer.  Ay,  all  mine  own. 

Where  spirit  is,  there  evil ;  and  the  Avorld 
Is  full  of  me  as  ocean  is  of  brine. 

Festus.     God  is  all  perfect ;  man  imperfect.     Thou  1 

Lucifer.     I  am  the  imperfection  of  the  wnole  — 
The  pitch  profoundest  of  the  fallible. 
Myself  the  all  of  evil  which  exists  — 
The  ocean  heaped  into  a  single  surge. 

Festus.      O   God!   why   wouldst    Thou   make   the 
universe  1 

Lucifer.     Child  !  quench  yon  suns  ;  strip  death  of 
its  decay ; 
Men  of  their  follies  —  hell  of  all  its  woe ! 
These  if  thou  didst,  thou  couldst  not  banish  me. 
I  am  the  shadow  which  Creation  casts 
From  God's  own  light.  —  But  here  we  are,  at  hell. 
Hark  to  the  thunderous  roaring  of  its  fires ! 
Yet,  ere  we  further  pass  —  stop !  dost  thou  shrink  ? 

Festus.     At    nought  —  not    I!      Come   on,   fiend! 
follow  me! 


FESTUS.  503 


Scene  —  Hell, 

Lucifer  and  Festus  entering. 

Lucifer.     Behold  my  world  !     Man's  science  counts 
it  not 
Upon  the  brightest  sky.     He  neter  knows 
How  near  it  comes  to  him:  but,  swathed  in  clouds 
As  though  in  plumed  and  palled  state,  it  steals 
Hearse-like  and  thief-like  round  the  universe, 
Forever  rolling  and  returning  not  — 
Robbing  all  worlds  of  many  an  angel  soul  — 
With  its  light  hidden  in  its  breast,  which  burns 
With  all  concentrate  and  superfluent  woe. 
Nor  sun  nor  moon  illume  itj  and  to  those 
Which  dwell  in  it,  not  live,  the  starry  skies 
Have  told  no  time  since  first  they  entered  there. 
Worlds  have  been  built,  and  to  their  central  base 
Ruined  and  razed  to  the  last  atom;  they 
Of  neither  know,  nor  can  —  unconscious,  save 
To  agony  —  nought  knowing  even  of  God 
But  His  omnipotence  to  execute 
Torture  on  those  He  hath  in  wrath  endowed 
With  Heaven's  own  immortality,  to  make 
Them  feel  what  woe  the  Almighty  can  inflict. 
And  the  all-feeble  sufier,  and  not  be 
Annihilated  as  they  would.     Be  sure 
That  this  is  hell.     The  blood  which  hath  imbrued 


504  FESTUS. 

Earth's  breast,  since  first  men  met  in  war,  may  hope 

Yet  to  be  formed  again  and  reascend. 

Each  drop  its  individual  vein;  the  foam-bubble. 

Sun-drawn  out  of  the  sea  into  the  clouds, 

To  scale  the  cataract  down  which  it  fell. 

Or  seek  its  primal  source  in  earth's  hot  heart; 

But  for  the  lost  to  rise  to  or  regain 

Heaven,  or  to  hope,  it  is  impossible. 

Festus.     Are  all  these  angels  then,  or  men,  or  both  I 
Or  mortals  of  all  worlds  ] 

Lucifer.  Immortals  all. 

Festus.     What  numbers '? 

Lucifer.  All  are  spirits  fallen  through  sin 

At  various  periods  of  eternity ; 
And  not  by  one  offence,  to  one  same  doom. 
And  at  one  moment,  did  they  down  from  Heaven 
Like  to  the  rapid  droppings  of  a  shower ; 
No!  each  distinct  as  thunderpeals,  they  fell. 
Save  those  that  fell  with  me.     With  me  began 
Sin  even  in  Heaven ;  with  me  but  sin  remains. 
Once,  I  alone  was  Hell.     Behold  my  fruits ! 

Festus.     What  do  yon  fiends'?     Some  'mong  them 
look  like  mortals : 
Their  hearts  shine  through  them  like  live  coals  through 

ashes. 
They  look  like  madmen  gone  delirious. 
Oh,  horror!     Let  me  hence. 

Lucifer.  Nay,  hear. 

Festus.  I  hear 


FESTUS.  505 

A  strain  incongruous  as  a  merry  dirge, 
Or  sacramental  bacchanal  might  be. 

Lucifer.     Men  are  they  not,  but  devils  at  the  best ; 
And  I  would  have  thee  mark  them. 

Festus.  I  attend. 

Fiends.     Heap  high  the  fires  of  hell !  let  woe  not 
languish, 
Heap  up  with  everlasting  flame,  heap  higher; 
There  let  the  man-fiend  consummate  in  anguish 
Howl  through  the  fathomless  profound  of  fire. 
To  tempt  and  ruin  those  that  once  were  solely 
God's,  and  torment  them  when  with  us  they  dwell — 
This  is  our  end,  and  their  existence  wholly 
Hid  in  the  doom  no  demon  dares  to  tell, 
But  is  shadowed  in  the  harrowing  eternity  of  hell. 
Deeper  than  the  bowl  the  drunkard  drained  so  gladly, 
Deadlier  than  the  lie  which  scorched  the  liar's  tongue, 
Keener  than  the  blade  the  murderer  plied  so  madly, 
Eats  aye  into  the  essence  the  worm  that  all  hath  stung. 
And  for  that  they  succumbed  to  the  toils  wherewith 

we  bound  them, 
Their  bread   is   burning   brimstone,  —  their   drink   is 

bubbling  fire ; 
For  they  live  upon   the   nature  of  the  tortures  that 

surround  them. 
And  their  life   is  in  the  death   they  shall  never  see 

expire ; 
Lo!   it  iloweth   from  the  fountains  of  the  ever-seeth- 
ing ire. 

64  QQ 


506  FESTUS. 

Festus.     Nay,  let  me  quit !  now  know  I  what  hell  is. 
What  are  they  —  drunkards,  liars,  murderers'? 

Lucifer.      Can  wine   destroy   the    souH    or   hell's 
fierce  flames 
Feed  upon  holy  water,  wherewith  priest 
Baptizeth  sinless  babe'?     Can  liar  make 
God  lie "?  or  cheat  his  neighbor  of  his  soul  1 
No !  God's  salvation  waiteth  not  on  man's 
Weak  will  nor  ministry ;  nor  man's  perdition 
Upon  his  brother's  hatred  or  neglect. 
Can  murderer  slay  the  soul  1  or  suicide 
Drug  immortality'?     Their  sin  is  great. 
And  is  eternally  condemned  of  God ; 
But  of  their  nature,  the  which  Death  destroys, 
Their  own  as  well  as  victim's  recompense. 
When  Time  hath  overcome  the  ruin  wrought 
Upon  their  hearts  w^ho  loved  the  dead,  that  they 
Who  suffered  most  have  most  forgiven  ill, — 
Shall  the  dead  slay  the  living  ceaselessly'?  — 
Shall  God,  who  is  all  Love,  reverse,  reserve. 
Here  in  hell,  ages  afterwards,  those  crimes'? 
And  because  man  hath  sinned  a  moment,  crown 
All  crime  in  instituting  punishment. 
Unending  for  an  instantaneous  wrong'? 
Shall  that  be  justice'?     It  were  more  than  vengeance 
Yet  such  the  Deity  men  fable,  such 
The  hell  whereto  they  doom  themselves. 

Festus.  No  more. 

The  world  is  all-sufficient  for  itself; 


FESTUS.  507 

And  Hell  and  Heaven  are  not  the  equivalents 
Of  earth's  iniquities  and  righteousness. 

Lucifer.     Can  those  who  are  idolaters  defraud 
God  of  His  worship  ]  who  adore  the  world, 
Gold,  or,  as  savages,  the  stars  and  Heaven, 
And  elements  of  earth]     None  worship  Him, 
But  with  and  in  His  spirit.     Nought  attains 
His  love  but  that  proceedeth  from  it  first. 
His  praise  is  everlasting  in  all  worlds 
And  starry  ages  of  eternity. 

Can  they  who  covet  the  world's  worthiest  goods, — 
Wealth,  honor,  power,  knowledge,  rank,  or  aught, — 
Merit  eternal  torment  for  a  sin 
Wherewith  is  bound  the  world's  prosperity 
And  human  glory"?     Nought  eternal  is 
But  that  which  is  of  God.     All  pain  and  woe 
Are  therefore  finite.     Can  the  robber  steal 
From  God  or  Heaven  a  thing,  or  from  the  souH 
Or  the  deflowerer  desecrate  and  undo 
The  espousals  of  the  spirit  with  its  Lord  ] 
How  weak  is  virtue,  then,  and  vice,  how  vain ! 
How  wretched  human  righteousness  —  and  sin, 
How  despicable  to  the  soul  assured. 
Since  neither  hath  a  recompense.     The  one 
By  Him  destroyed  who  can  alone  unmake 
That  he  hath  made ;  the  other  perfected. 
United,  deified  in  God  the  Son 
With  His  own  nature.     Infinite  Universe ! 
Thou  hast  no  like,  no  second  favorite 
To  mortal  man  of  God's. 


508  FESTUS. 

Festus.  What  mean  the  words 

Of  yonder  fiendish  chant,  then'? 

Lucifer.  Words  and  shapes 

Are  equally  as  soon  assumed  by  spirits. 
Sin,  with  deep  draughts  of  fiery  venom  fed, 
Drains  to  the  latest  dreg  of  murderous  flame 
Its  self-consuming  fate,  self-punitive 
In  cyclical  necessity  of  self. 
By  pure  destruction.     If  'twas  God's  good  will 
Brought  all  things  into  being,  then  His  hate 
Cannot  do  less  than  all  annihilate. 
What  is  unholy  He  detests  to  death. 
Evil  at  last  corrupts  itself  away, 
Left  to  itself;  but  His  high  will  o'errides, 
O'errules,  indeed,  the  child  of  His  right  hand. 
When  therefore  all  is  ended,  and  at  last 
Time's  sun,  declining  down  the  eternal  skies. 
Leaves  his  last  shining  shadow  on  the  sea, 
And  in  the  boundless  abyss  entombs  his  beams ; 
When  final  evening  folds  the  universe 
Heavily  round,  then  hell  shall  drain  the  dread 
Cup  of  perdition  to  the  last  drop.     Death 
Is  of  all  things  thou  thinkest  most  like  sleep: 
The  dead  think  otherwise.     But  wherefore  thus  1 
What  mean  my  words  to  thee? 

Festus.  In  sooth,  I  know  not. 

I  am  constrained  to  hear  them. 

Lucifer.  As  for  these!  — 

It  is  a  fire  of  soul  in  which  they  burn. 


FESTUS.  509 

And  by  which  they  are  purified  from  sin  — 

Rid  of  the  grossness  which  had  gathered  round  them, 

And  burnt  again  into  their  virgin  brightness. 

All  things  work  round  like  worlds.     The  orb  of  hell 

Hath  yet  its  place  in  Heaven,  as  thine  and  all. 

But,  as  a  spiritual  quality, 

As  spirit  is  the  substance  of  all  matter  — 

Hidden  or  open,  heatlike  doth  inhere 

In  all  existence  —  or  for  good  or  ill. 

Look  at  yon  spirit. 

Festus.  What  was  it  brought  thee  hither  ] 

Spirit.     I  was  an  angel  once,  ages  agone; 
But  doing  good  and  glorifying  not 
God,  who  empowered  me,  He  sent  me  here 
To  fire  the  proud  spot  from  my  heart. 

Festus.  And  when 

Wilt  thou  do  this,  and  own  thou  hast  wronged  God  ? 

Spirit.     I  do  repent  me.  and  confess  it  now. 
I  will  not  ask  God  now  to  let  me  be 
What  once  I  was  ;  but  might  I  only  sit 
A  footstool  for  some  other  worthier  far 
Who  owneth  now  my  throne,  I  should  be  happy — 
Far  happier  than  I  was  in  my  proud  prayers, 
That  God  would  give  me  worlds  on  worlds  to  govern, 
And  in  receiving  all  their  prayers  and  blessings. 

0  God !  remember  me !  O  save  me ! 
Festus.  See ! 

1  do  believe  there  is  an  angel  coming 
This  way  from  Heaven. 

QQ* 


510  FESTUS. 

Spirit.  He  comes  to  me  —  to  me! 

Angel.     Hail,  sufferer! 

Spirit.  Sinner. 

Angel.  God  hath  bade  me  bring  thee 

Away  to  Heaven ;  thy  throne  is  kept  for  thee ; 
And  all  the  hosts  of  Heaven  are  on  the  wing 
To  welcome  thee  again ! 

Spirit.  I  dare  not  come : 

I  am  not  worthy  Heaven. 

Angel.  But  God  will  make  thee. 

Festus.     Spirit  —  farewell !  and  may  we  meet  again 
In  better  time  and  place. 

Spirit.  Glory  to  God  ! 

I  go  —  farewell !  —  and  I  will  speak  of  thee, 
But  Oh,  repent !     Be  humble,  and  despair  not. 

\^An^el  and  Spirit  rise. 

Lucifer.     Oh !    think,  when  all   are  judged,  what 
hosts  of  souls 
WiU  then  be  mine  at  last !  —  what  wings  of  fire ! 
Deemest  thou  yet  as  mortal  ? 

Festus.  This  is  not 

As  thou  didst  speak  of  hell,mor  as  I  judged. 

Lucifer.     Hell  is  the  wrath  of  God  —  His  hate  of 
sin. 
God  hates  man's  nature ;  be  it  said  of  his 
As  of  all  beings ! 

Festus.  How  hate  that  He  hath  made? 

Lucifer.     The  infinite  opposition  of  Perfection 
To  imperfection  leaves  nor  choice,  nor  mean. 


FESTUS.  511 

Thus  the  demeanor  of  thy  world  grieved  God, 

Till  its  destruction  pleased  Him,  and  its  name 

Was  struck  out  of  the  starry  scroll ;  thus  all 

Creation  worketh  infinite  grief  in  Time. 

When  human  nature  is  most  perfect,  then 

Its  fall  is  nearest,  as  of  ripest  fruit. 

Man's  pleasure  in  the  world  —  to  both  of  which 

His  nature  is  made  fit  —  is  not  of  God, 

Save  theirs  on  whom  His  spirit  He  bestows, 

As  in  a  twilight  between  Earth  and  Heaven, 

A  promissory  Being  unfulfilled  — 

But  still  how  glorious  to  the  stone-blind  world ! 

This  is  in  time,  but  in  eternity 

He  raises,  remakes,  adds  to  all  He  hath  made 

His  own  immortalizing  love  and  grace. 

Which  keeps  them  ever  pure  as  is  the  sea, 

And  incorruptible  in  godly  will. 

The  bliss  of  God  and  man  originates, 

Unites,  and  ends  in  self — in  Deity: 

To  whom  is  neither  motive  —  good  —  nor  end 

Greater  or  less,  or  other  than  Himself 

Festus.     But  how  can  the  Creator  glory  find 
In  hell,  or  creature,  good  —  if  God  be  Love, 
Or  man  a  being  salvable?     Oh,  say! 
But  who  comes  hither  1 

Lucifer.  It  is  the  Son  of  God  !  — 

Omnipotent !  before  whose  steadfast  feet 
The   thrones  of  Heaven,  which  hoped   to  have  over- 
thrown thine. 


512  FESTUS. 

But  now  all  strengthless,  hopeless,  Godless  here, 
Rose  once  and  ebbed  forever,  even  these 
Deep  in  their  fiery  abyss  of  woe 
Unbent,  unbettered  will  again  rush  forth 
In  all  the  might  of  madness  and  despair. 
To  prove  their  hatred  of  Thee  and  Thy  love. 
Salvation  is  the  scorn  of  angels  here. 
What  dost  Thou  here,  not  having  sinned "? 

Son  of  God.  For  men 

I  bore  with  death  —  for  fiends  I  bear  with  sin ; 
And  death  and  sin  are  each  the  pain  I  pay 
For  the  love  which   brought   me  down  from  Heaven 

to  save 
Both  men  and  devils;   and  the  Father  makes 
And  orders  every  instant  what  is  best. 

Festus.     This  is  God's  truth :  Hell  feels  a  moment 
cool. 

Son   of    God.      Hell   is    His    justice  —  Heaven    is 
love  — 
Earth,  His  long-suffering:  all  the  world  is  but 
A  quality  of  God ;  therefore  come  I 
To  temper  these  —  to  give  to  justice,  mercy; 
And  to  long-suffering,  longer.     Heaven  is  mine 
By  birthright.     Lo !  I  am  the  heir  of  God : 
He  hath  given  all  things  to  me.     I  have  made 
The  earth  mine  own,  and  all  yon  countless  worlds. 
And  all  the  souls  therein ;  yea,  soul  by  soul. 
And  world  by  world,  have  I  redeemed  them  all  — 
One  by  one  through  eternity,  or  given 


FESTUS.  513 

The  means  of  their  salvation :  why  not,  then, 
Hein 

Festus.     Every  spirit  is  to  be  redeemed. 

Son  of  God.      Mortal !  it  has :  the  best  and  worst 
need  one 
And  same  salvation.     There  is  nothing  final 
In  all  this  world  but  God ;  therefore  these  souls 
Whom  I  see  here,  and  pity  for  their  woes  — 
But  for  their  evil  more  —  these  need  not  be 
Inhelled  forever ;  for  although  once,  twice,  thrice, 
On  earth  or  here  they  may  have  put  God  from  them  — 
Disowned  His  prophets  —  mocked  His  angels  —  slain 
His  Son  in  His  mortality  —  and  stormed 
His  curses  back  to  Him ;  yet  God  is  such, 
That  He  can  pity  still ;   and  I  can  suffer 
For  them,  and  save  them.     Father!  I  fear  not. 
But  by  Thy  might  I  can  save  hell   from  hell. 
Fiends  !  hear  ye  me !     Why  will  ye  burn  forever  ] 
Look !  I  am  here  all  water :  come  and  drink. 
And  bathe  in  me !  baptize  your  burning  souls 
In  the  pure  well  of  life  —  the  spring  of  God. 
I  come  to  save  all  souls  who  will  be  saved. 
Come,  ye  immortal  fallen  !  rise  again ! 
There  is  a  resurrection  for  the  dead, 
And  for  the  second  dead.     And  though  ye  died, 
And  fell,  and  fell  again,  and  again  died, 
There  is  a  life  to  come,  a  rise  for  all  — 
A  life  to  come  forever,  and  a  rise  ^1 

Perpetual  as  the  spring  is  in  the  year. 

65 


514  FESTUS. 

A  Fiend.     Thou  Son  of  God !  what  wilt  thou  here 
with  us? 
Have  we  not  hell  enough  without  Thy  presence'? 
Remorse,  and  always  strife,  and  hate  of  all, 
I  see  around  me:  is  it  not  enough ] 
Why  wilt  Thou  double  it  with  Thy  mild  eyes'? 

Son  of  God.     Spirit!  I  come  to  save  thee. 

Fiend.  How  can  that  heV 

Son  of  God.     Repent !     God  will  forgive  thee  then ; 
and  I 
Will  save  thee ;  and  the  Holy  One  shall  hallow. 
Repent  thou,  for  thy  judgment  is  at  hand; 
But  if  thou  slurrest  over  these  means  and  times. 
Which  have  been  given  thee  for  repentance  here. 
Tremble  !     This  hell  is  nothing  to  thy  next. 
Believest  thou  I  can  save  thee  1 

Fiend.  Son  of  God ! 

I  do  believe  it.     Let  me  worship. 

Son  of  God.  Come  ! 

Come  to  me !     Lo  !  I  will  but  touch  thy  brow. 
And  make  thee  bright  as  morning  is  in  Heaven. 

Spirit.     Angel  of  light  I  am  again!     Look  here! 
This  —  this  is  to  be  saved  ! 

Lucifer.  I  like  it  not. 

Son  of  God.      Hear !    ye    immortals    dead !    this  I 
can  do. 
Repent!  and  be  all  angels. 

Spirit.  Oh,  believe! 

He  is  God.     Worship  Him !     He  comes  to  save  us. 


FESTUS.  515 

Lucifer.      Stand  thou  beside  me:    I  will  speak  to 
them ; 
Or  they  will  sure  believe  Him.     Hell !  Q  Hell ! 
Powers  of  perdition  !   thrones  of  darkness  !  —  hear  ! 
Wrath,  ruin,  torment !  —  hear  me  !     It  is  I ! 
Thanks,  fiends  !  I  know  ye  hate  me  well,  and  may : 
I  tempted,  ruined,  damned  ye  every  one. 
Were  ye  not  proud,  now,  to  be  conquered  by  me '? 
But  wherefore  so  supine '?     Am  I  your  lord  ? 
Me  do  ye  doubt  1  or  dare  ye  Him  believe  ] 
What  is  an  angel  dressed  in  shiny  white  ] 
Can  I  not  make  ye  angels  1     Ay  !  and  more : 
I  cannot  make  ye  less  —  nor  ye  yourselves  — 
Nor  God  —  nor  Son  of  God.     But  hark  to  me! 
Be  still,  ye  thunderblasts  and  hills  of  fire! 
Hell  doth  out-din  itself  —  Hell-hearted  slaves  ! 
What  are  ye  that  I  thus  should  toil  for  ye, 
Who  hardly  earn  the  fire  that  burns  ye  up  1 
Power  I  have  profiered,  but  ye  have  refused : 
Nothing  is  for  ye  but  your  fiery  fate. 
Kingdoms  I  have  prepared,  and  ye  have  spurned. 
Slaves !  slaves !  ye  are  too  much  at  ease !     Ye  leave 
Me  single  in  the  work  of  woe.     I,  sole. 
Go  forth  to  sow  destruction:  I,  alone. 
Reap  ruin.     Had  ye  been  as  I,  ere  now 
The  universe  had  been  all  hell;  and,  for 
A  pit,  each  fiend  had  had  a  world  to  rule. 
Rise!     Yet  we'll  play  all  Hell  against  all  Heaven! 
Up !  up !  and  then  at  once  we  will  battle  God ; 


516  FESTUS. 

And  hurling  each  his  orb  against  the  throne, 
Strange  if  we  will  not  scatter  it  like  sand. 
To  reign  is  nothing  half  like  to  dethrone ! 
Dethrone!  and  each  is  greater  then  than  God. 
And  will  ye,  then,  give  up  your  hopes  of  Heaven, 
And  entrance  as  young  conquerors  fresh  from  spoil, 
And  choice  of  thrones  won  by  your  death-red  hands. 
For  pitiful  repentance,  like  him  yonder  ? 
Forbid  it !  all  the  prowess,  pride,  and  pain 
Of  hell  that  we  have  borne  with !  do  ye  not  ] 
Meanwhile  man's  world  is  straight  to  be  destroyed. 
Be  glad!  be  glad!     Earth's  sons  may  soon  be  here. 
And  here,  as  earnest  of  the  truth  I  tell. 
Behold  this  earthling  standing  by  my  side ! 
Speak  to  them,  Festus. 

Festus.  Nay,  I  dread  them. 

Lucifer.  Speak  I 

Great  spirits  !  he  scarce  is  worthy  to  address  ye. 
In  that  I  cannot  say  he  yet  is  damned. 

Festus.      But  I  am   here ;    what   recks  it  how  or 
why? 
Ye  care  not,  and  I  know  not.     It  is  fate: 
The  will  of  God  and  him  who  sets  me  here ; 
And  which  I  question  not.     It  must  be  good. 
Whether  decreed  that  I  be  saved  or  lost. 
But  I  have  poor  pretensions  for  this  place ; 
And  none,  I  Iftpe,  have  worse  that  are  to  come. 
For  I  have  never  mocked  the  Word  of  God, 
Nor  torn  it  into  fuel  for  my  scorn: 


FESTUS.  517 

Nor  doubted,  save  tremblingly,  His  being:  — 

His  love  to  man  —  His  right  to  be  adored, — 

Never  have  hated,  never  wronged  my  race, — 

Deluded,  nor  rejoiced  in  their  delusion  ; 

Never  have  beckoned  off  the  good  from  good  — 

Never  have  mocked  nor  scattered  hopes  —  nor  e'er 

Have  wasted  liearts,  nor  desolated  hearths ; 

And  if  I  have  once,  twice  —  as  who  hath  noil  — 

Toyed  with  temptation,  yet  even  he  will  say 

Who  standeth  there,  that  I  have  never  given 

Up  to  his  burning  dalliance  my  soul. 

And  yet  he  is  my  friend,  the  Evil  One. 

And  why  is  wondrous  ;  judge  ye  wherefore,  too. 

I  have  no  malice,  envy,  nor  revenge ; 

None  of  those  petty  passions  which  bad  hearts 

Scourge  red  into  themselves  —  for  passions  are 

Sufferings  —  and  which  to  nourish  is  his  want; 

Wherein  doth  lie  his  power :  these  I  have  not. 

And,  save  enjoying  earth,  I  have  done  never 

Aught  that  he  could  take  part  in.     But  he  came 

From  God,  he  said,  to  give ;    and  I  believed ;  — 

Great  spirits  lie  not  —  doubt  not. 

Lucifer.  He  says  truth. 

But  it  is  not  for  him  nor  you  to  know 
The  reason  of  my  doings ;  it  is  the  thing 
Unfeared  and  unforethought  which  tempts,  betrays. 
It  is  I  who  bait  the  world  to  do  its  will. 
As  to  this  mortal,  God  hath  sanctioned  all 
That  I  have  done,  or  may  do  to  the  end ; 


518  FESTUS. 

Which  I  have  nought  to  do  with.     Son  of  God! 
Go  on  redeeming !  —  I  will  go  on  damning. 
God !  go  on  making !  —  I  will  go  on  marring. 
Go  on  believing,  man  !  —  I  go  on  tempting. 
Saint !  angel !  cherub !  seraph  !  and  archangel ! 
Go  ye  on  blessing !  —  I  will  go  on  cursing ! 
I  now  retrack  my  course  to  earth ;  therein 
To  work  out  what  remaineth  of  the  fate 
Of  this  man,  and  await  his  world's  destruction. 
What  next  may  hap  I  care  not. 

Festus.  Let  us  hence! 

Lucifer.     Where  is  Hel 

Festus.  There  —  see  !  many  do  believe. 

Orb  of  perdition  !  thou,  too,  shalt  die  out, 
And  thy  red-sheeted  flames  shall  fall  for  aye. 
Thy  palpitating  piles  of  ruin,  hot 
With  ever-active  agony,  and  quick 
With  soul  immortal,  down  whose  midnight  heights 
The  wrath  of  God  in  cataracts  of  fire 
Precipitates  itself  unceasingly, 
Shall  rush  into  destruction  as  a  steed 
Rushes  into  the  battle,  there  to  die. 
Thy  quivering  hills  of  black  and  bloody  hue. 
Death-breathing,  shall  collapse  like  lifeless  lungs. 
And  end  in  air  and  ashes.     Thou  shalt  be 
Dashed  from  creation,  spark-like,  from  a  hand 
Scarless:  pass  like  a  rolled  syllable 
Of  midnight  thunder  from  the  coming  day. 
The  river  of  all  life,  which  flows  through  Heaven, 


FESTUS,  519 

Shall  yet  reach  thee  and  overflood  thy  flames. 
Thou  shalt  no  more  vex  God  nor  man;  nor  all 
The  seekings  of  the  soul  shall  hunt  thee  out. 
Thy  day  is  sometime  over.     Be  it  soon ! 
And  thou  the  lost  world  which  the  world  hath  lost ! 


Scene  —  A  Drawing  Room. 
Festus  and  Elissa. 

Festus.     Who  says  he  loves  and   is  not  wretched, 
lies ; 
Or  that  love  is  madness,  came  mad  from  his  mother. 
It  is  the  most  reasonable  thing  in  nature. 
What  can  we  do  but  love '?     It  is  our  cup. 
Love  is  the  cross  and  passion  of  the  heart  — 
Its  end  —  its  errand.     In  the  name  of  God, 
What  made  us  love,  Elissa "? 

Elissa.  I  know  not. 

I  am  not  happy.     I  have  wept  all  day. 

Festus.     'Twas    thine   own   fault.      What   wouldst 
thou  have  of  me'? 
I  tell  thee  we  must  —  no,  I  cannot  tell  thee. 
Nor  can  I  bear  those  tears.     Thou  know'st  I  love  thee, 
Worship  thee ;  Oh  !  it's  a  world  more  than  worship, 
The  cold  obedience  which  we  give  to  God. 
Elissa !  turn  to  me ! 

Elissa.  I  cannot.     Go!  — 


520  FESTUS. 

Festus.     Thou  hadst  no  need,  no  business  to  have 
loved  me. 
One  loved  thee  v^^ell. 

Elissa.  I  could  not  help  his  loving 

Me,  nor  my  loving  thee.     It  was  our  fate. 

Festus.     Then  Faith  hath  feed  the  passion  for  our 
death, 
And  we  are  sold. 

Elissa.  Well!     Let  us  die  together. 

Together  we  will  quit  our  bodies  here. 

Festus.     Together  will  we  go  to  God  and  judgment. 

Elissa.     Festus  !  I  will,  I  can  love  none  but  thee. 

Festus.     Thou  must  not. 

Elissa.  But  I  must.     I  cannot  help  it. 

Look  at  me  —  heart  and  arms,  I  am  thine  own. 
Thou  knowest  I  am  and  have  been.    Wilt  not  love  me  ^ 
Festus !  mine  own  and  only !  wilt  thou  not '? 
Have  I  done  nothing,  suffered  and  abandoned 
Nothing,  for  thee]     Oh!  I  was  happy  once, 
Ere  I  knew  thee.     Why  wast  thou  kind  to  me? 
Cruelly  kind  —  or  this  had  never  been. 
But  now  thou  mayst  be  cruel  if  thou  wilt. 
Hate  me !  still  I  am  thine :  disown  me,  thine ! 
Desert  me!  no  —  thou  canst  not.     I  am  thine; 
I  am  —  look  at  me,  Festus!  look  at  me  ; 
I  am  half  blind  with  weeping ;  and  mine  eyes 
Have  not  a  tear  left  in  them.     But  I  know 
How  it  will  end.     Thou  wilt  leave  me  as  I  am  — 
Loveless  and  lonely. 


FESTUS.  521 

Festus.  Nay,  not  so;  my  love 

Shall  aye  be  with  thee,  and  my  soul  with  both. 
But  W8  must  part!     Think  that  I  come  again. 

Elissa.      Not  be  again  with  thee  —  nor  thou  with 


me 


It  is  too  much.     Let  me  go  mad,  or  die. 

Festus.      Live,  mine  Elissa !    and   thou  shalt   live 
with  me, 
And  I  will  love  thee  ever  as  I  now  love. 
Wnt  thou  1 

Elissa.     Oh!  make  me  happy!  say  I  may 
Believe  thee. 

Festus.  May]     Thou  must. 

Elissa.  Say  it  again. 

I  cannot  know  too  often  of  my  bliss. 
But  dost  thou  love  me  1  tell  me — wilt  thou  love  me? 

Festus.      Since   I   have  known  thee,  I  have  done 
nought  else. 
All  hours  not  spent  with  thee  are  blanks  between  stars. 
I  love  thee!  love  thee!  love  thee!  madly  love  thee! 
Oh !  thou  hast  drank  my  heart  dry  of  all  love ! 
It  will  be  empty  to  aught  after  thee. 
Come,  dry  thine  eyes.     Blessings  on  those  sweet  eyes ! 
By  Heaven !  they  might  a  moment  win  the  glance 
Of  any  seraph  gazing  not  on  God. 

Elissa.     No  wonder  they  drew  thine.      There  is  a 
tear! 

Festus.     Ay ;  strange  and  startling  is  the  first  hot 
tear 

66  ER* 


522  FESTUS. 

That  we  have  shed  for  years;  and  which  hath  lain 
Like  to  a  water-fairy  in  the  eye's 
Blue  depths  —  spell-hound  in  the  socket  of  the  soul. 
Death  brought   it    not  —  pain   brought   it  not  —  nor 

shame ; 
Nor  penitence  —  nor  pity  —  nor  despair: 
Nothing  but  love  could.     For  a  fearful  time 
We  can  keep  down  the  floodgates  of  the  heart, 
But  we  must  draw  them  sometime ;  or  it  will  burst 
Like  sand  this  brave  embankment  of  the  breast, 
And  drain  itself  to  dry  death.     When  pride  thaws, 
Look  for  floods. 

Elissa.  Now,  thou  wilt  be  very  kind 

When  next  we  meetl      Our  time  will  soon  be  gone. 

Festus.     I   cannot  think    of  time :  —  there    is   no 
time ! 
Time !  time !  I  hate  thee  —  with  the  hate  of  hell 
For  aught  that's  good  —  but  thou  art  infamous. 
I  will  give  thee  half  my  immortality 
To  keep  back  for  one  hour.     Leave  me,  to-night; 
And  wither  me,  to-morrow,  like  a  weed. 

Elissa.     Where  is  he  now"? 

Festus.  In  hell,  —  I  hope. 

Elissa.  What  mean'st  thou"? 

He  wronged  thee  never.     Say,  when  cometh  hel 

Festus.     To-night.  * 

Elissa.  He  comes  to  sever  us,  like  fate 

But  shall  he  part  us  1 

Festus.  Never!     Let  him  part 

The  sun  in  two  first. 


FESTUS.  523 

Elissa.  It  was  ever  thus : 

I  am  made  to  make  unhappy  all  around  me. 

Festus.     I  will  not  hear  of  thy  being  wrong,  —  it 
is  I. 
I  am  the  false  usurper.     And  since  one 
Out  of  the  three  must  be  a  sacrifice, 
Let  it  be  me.     It  shall  be. 

Elissa.  Thou  didst  swear, 

Even  now,  to  love  me  ever. 

Festus.  Be  it  so. 

I  have  sworn  —  and  now  and  then  I  keep  my  oath  — 
I  will  not  give  thee  up,  so  save  me,  God ! 

Elissa.      Oh !    we  have  been  too  happy,  have  we 
noil 
But,  now  I  think  of  it,  we  might  have  known 
It  could  not  last.     Woe  follows  bliss  as  close 
As  death  does  life  —  as  naturally,  may  be. 
We  might  have  thought  — 

Festus.  I  never  thought  about  it. 

My  love  —  Elissa !  ah,  how  cold  thy  hand  is ! 
Here  —  warm  it  on  my  heart.     Nay,  let  it  be. 
The  hand  that  is  on  the  heart  is  on  the  soul. 
And  it  is  thus  some  moments  take  the  wheel, 
And  steer  us  through  eternity.     Believe  me. 
Could  I  but  crowd  life,  love  too,  in  one  throb, 
I  would  beat  it  out,  this  moment,  in  thy  hand, 
And  would  die  blessing. 

Elissa.  Give  me  my  hand  back ! 

Festus.     My  sweet  one !  if  this  heart  hath  warmed 
thy  hand, 


524  FESTUS. 

It  hath  not  beaten  in  vain  —  it  but  returns 

A  pleasure,  and  a  passion,  and  a  power: 

For  oft  at  touch  of  thine  this  bosom  burns. 

Speak  to  me !  keep  my  name  upon  thy  lips. 

Steeped  in  their  rosy  star-dew,  there  where  now 

Dwells  the  sweet  soul  of  silence  unexpressed. 

Possible  music ;  hither  turn  those  eyes, 

Within  whose  glowing  depths  one  streaming  star. 

Ascendant  of  the  soul,  holds  radiant  rule 

And  full-orbed  dominance,  that  mine  may  share 

Their  dear  translated  light ;  Oh !  let  that  cheek. 

Just  tinged  as  with  the  echo  of  a  blush. 

Pale  as  the  sumptuous  bosom  of  a  rose. 

Which  else  might  vie  with  snow,  that  crescent  brow 

Beaming  with  soul-light.  Oh !  incline  to  mine !  — 

Nay,  do  not  weep.     We  never  trust  your  tears. 

Tears,  like  the  spirits  in  a  magic  glass, 

Wait  on  the  witchery  of  fair  woman's  will. 

Elissa.     Wrong  me  not  thus.     The  end  of  love  is 
woe; 
And  of  woe,  death ;  and  of  death,  death  alone. 
And  there  is  no  redemption  for  the  heart. 

Festus.     Love  hath  no  end  except  itself     We  only 
Felt  we  loved  and  were  happy. 

Elissa.  Ah!     It  was  so. 

Our  sole  misfortune  is,  we  have  been  happy : 
We  never  shall  be  happy  here  again. 

Festus.     Nay,  say  not  so.     Let  us  be  happy  now. 
Happy]     To  fling  aside  thy  wavy  locks, 


FESTUS.  525 

And  feed  mine  eyes  on  thy  white  brow  —  to  look 
Deep  in  thine  eyes  till  I  feel  mine  have  drank 
Full  of  that  soft,  wet  fire  which  floats  in  thine  — 
Eyes  which  I  ne'er  would  leave  —  yet,  when  most  near, 
Then  most  astray  I  —  Oh  !  to  lay  my  cheek 
Upon  thy  sweet  and  swelling  bosom  thus ; 
Where  midst  upon  the  beauty  of  thy  breast 
Sits  Love,  like  One  between  the  cherubim  — 
To  crop  the  red,  budding  kisses  from  thy  lips  — 
To  name  thee,  make  thee,  but  one  moment,  mine  — 
Delights  me  more  than  all  that  earth  can  lend 
The  good  or  bad  —  or  Heaven  can  give  the  saved. 
One  long,  wild  kiss  of  sunny  sweets,  till  each 
Lack   breath,  the  lips    half  bleed,   and,  come  —  thou 

knowest ! 
I  ask  but  one  such  —  let  it  last  forever ! 

Elissa.     Now,  Festus !  this  is  wrong. 

Festus.  What"? — what  is  wrong  1 

Shall  my  blood  never  bound  beneath  beauty's  touch, 
Heart  throb,  nor  eye  thaw  with  hers  —  when  her  tears 
Drop,  quick  and  bright,  upon  the  glowing  brow 
Plunged  in  her  bosom  —  because,  forsooth,  it  is  wrong  1 
Let  it  be  wrong !  it  is  wrong,  it  is  wretchedness, 
That  I  would  lose  both  sense  and  soul  to  sufibr. 

Elissa.      How  dare  we  love  each  other  as  we  do  1 

Festus.     Give  me  some  wine!   more  —  more,  love! 

Elissa.  Drink  and  drain 

The  bowl !  the  vintage  of  a  hundred  years 
Would  never  slake  the  memory  of  shame; 
Xir  quench  the  thirst  of  folly. 


526  FESTUS. 

Festus.  Fill  again! 

My  beauty!  sing  to  me,  and  make  me  glad. 
Thy  sweet  words  drop  upon  the  ear  as  soft 
As  rose-leaves  on  a  well :  and  I  could  listen, 
As  though  the  immortal  melody  of  Heaven 
Were  wrought  into  one  word  —  that  word  a  whisper, 
That  whisper  all  I  want  from  all  I  love. 

Elissa.     I  am  not  happy,  and  I  cannot  sing. 
Thou  lookest  happy.     I  wish  I  were  so. 

Festus.     They  tell  us  that  the  body  of  the  sun 
Is  dark,  and  hard,  and  hollow;  and  that  light 
Is  but  a  floating  fluid  veiling  him. 
Ah !  how  oft,  and  how  much,  the  heart  is  like  him ! 
Despite  the  electric  light  it  lives  and  hides  in. 

Servant,  entering,     A  singer  who  was  told  to  come 
is  here. 

Festus.     Wilt  hear  him? 

Elissa.  Yes,  love  —  gladly. 

Festus.  Show  him  in. 

What  have  you  there  1 

Singer.  Oh !  I  think,  every  thing. 

Festus.     Well,  any  thing  will  be  enough  this  once. 
The  last  new  song] 

Singer.  Certainly ;  here  it  is.       \_8ings. 

Oh!  let  not  a  lovely  form 
With  feeling  fill  thine  eye; 

Oh!  let  not  the  bosom  warm 
At  love-lorn  lady's  sigh. 


FESTUS.  527 

For  how  false  is  the  fairest  breast ! 

How  little  worth,  if  true  ! 
And  who  would  wished  possessed, 

What  all  must  scorn,  or  ruel 
Then  pass  by  beauty  with  looks  above ; 
Oh  !  seek  never  —  share  never  —  woman's  love  ! 

Oh !  let  not  a  planet-like  eye 

Imbeam  its  tale  on  thine ; 
In  truth  'tis  a  lie  —  though  a  lie 

Scarce  less  than  truth  divine. 
And  the  light  of  its  look  on  the  young 

Is  wildfire  with  the  soul ; 
Ye  follow  and  follow  it  long, 

But  find  nor  good  nor  goal. 
Then  pass  by  beauty  with  looks  above; 
Oh  !  seek  never  —  share  never  —  woman's  love ! 


Elissa. 

Methinks  I 

must 

have  heard 

that 

voice 

before. 

Festus. 

And  I. 

Elissa. 

Where? 

Festus. 

I  forget. 

Elissa. 

And  so 

do  I. 

Singer.     Oh !  let  not  a  wildering  tongue 
Weave  bright  webs  o'er  thine  ear; 
Nor  thy  spirit  be  said  nor  sung 
To  the  air  of  smile  or  tear. 


528  FESTUS. 

And  say  it  hath  melody  far 

More  than  the  spheres  of  Heaven, 

Though  to  man  and  the  morning  star 
They  sang,  Ye  be  forgiven ! 

Yet  pass  by  beauty  with  looks  above ; 

Oh!  seek  never  —  share  never  —  woman's  love! 

Oh!  let  not  a  soft  bosom  pour 

Itself  in  thine !     It  is  vain. 
Love  cheateth  the  heart.  Oh!  be  sure. 

Worse  even  than  wine,  the  brain. 
Then  snatch  up  thy  lip  from  the  brim, 

Nor  drain  its  dreamlike  death  ; 
For  Love  loves  to  lie  down  and  dim 

The  bright  soul  with  his  breath. 
Then  pass  by  beauty  with  looks  above ; 
Oh!  seek  never — share  never  —  woman's  love! 

Eestus.     Come  hither,  man  !     I  wish  to  look  at  thee 
A  moment.     No  !   it  can't  be.     Yet  I  have  seen 
Some  one  much  like  thee. 

Elissa.  It  was  a  brother,  may  bel 

Singer.      I  have  none,  lady.      Have  ye  done  with 

me"? 
Festus.      Yes  —  go !    and  we  will    take  your  song 

of  you. 
Servant.     Here,  follow  me.  [They  go, 

Festus.  Weeping  again,  my  love"? 

Thou  art,  by  turns,  the  proudest  and  the  humblest 


FESTUS.  529 

Creature  I  ever  met  with.     The  least  thing 

Dints  thy  soft  heart.     Come,  cheer  thee,  sweet  one  — 

do! 
Oh  !  if  to  say,  I  love,  laid  all  the  sins 
Of  all  the  worlds  upon  me,  I  would  say  it 
Till  I  were  out  of  breath ;    and  will,  till  I  die. 

Elissa.     If  Love  be  blind,  it  must  be  by  his  tears ; 
For  love  and  sorrow  alway  come  together  — 
Love  with  his  sister,  sorrow,  by  the  hand. 

Festus.     Nay,  I  will  conquer  thee  again   to  smile. 
Or  lose  my  right  to  love  thee.     Let  me  kneel ! 
Come !    I  will  have  no  other  gods  but  thee ; 
To  none  but  thee  will  I  bow  down  and  worship; 
Thy  bosom  is  mine  altar  —  and  thine  eyes 
Are  the  divinity  that  preys  upon  me. 
Oh  !    cruel  as  the  week-day  gods  of  old, 
Thou  wilt  have  human  victims;    not  content 
With  tears  and  kisses  —  fire  and  water  —  thou 
Wilt  have  the  subtler  element  of  life ; 
Thou  needs  must  live  on  immortality ! 
Here  —  take  me  then  !     I  offer  up  myself 
A  sacrifice  to  thee. 

Elissa.  Thou  foolish  boy  ! 

Where  will  thy  passionate  folly  end]     I  love  thee. 

Festus.     Well,  then,  let  me  conjure  thee !   let  me 
swear 
By  some  sweet  oath  that  shall  to  both  be  holy, — 
By  arms  which  hold,  by  knees  which  worship  thee ! 
By  that  dark  eye,  the  dark  divine  of  beauty, 

67  SB 


530  FESTUS. 

Yet  trembling  o'er  its  lid  all  tears  and  light  — 
Glory  and  eye  of  eyes  which  yet  have  shone! 
By  this  lone  heart  which  longeth  for  a  mate  ! 
By  love's  sweet  will,  and  sweeter  way!   by  all 
I  love  —  by  thyself,  myself!   let  me,  let  me, 
Let  me  —  but  draw  the  lightning  from  thine  eye :  — 
Kisses  are  my  conductors :   do  not  frown, 
Nor  look  so  temptingly  angry.     I  was  but  trifling. 
The  cold  calm  kiss  which  cometh  as  a  gift, 
Not  a  necessity,  is  not  for  me. 

Whose    bliss,   whose   woe,   whose   life,   whose   all,   is 
love. 
Elissa.      We    both    wrong    whom    we    love,    love 

whom  we  wrong. 
Festus.     But  I  am  as  a  dog  that  fondles  o'er 
And  licks  the  wound  he  dies  of     Would  I  could 
Suffer  or  feel  enough  of  love  to  kill! 

Elissa.     Thou  lovest   one  whom   thou  oughtst  not 

to  love. 
Festus.     And  what  of  that?     Love  hath  its  own 
belief — 
Own  worship  —  own  morality  —  own  laws  : 
And  it  were  better  that  all  love  were  sin 
Than  that  love  were  not.     It  must  have  by-laws  — 
Exceptions  to  the  rules  of  Earth  and  Heaven  — 
For  it  means  not  the  good  it  doth,  nor  ill. 
Elissa.     It  is  wrong  —  it  is  unjust  —  unkind. 
Festus.  It  is. 

But  I  am  half  mad  and  half  dead  with  it. 


FESTUS.  531 

1  have  loved  thee  till  I  can  love  nought  beside. 
My  heart  is  drenched  with  love  as  with  a  cloud. 
I  have  too  much  of  life,  that  I  scarce  can  live. 
I  hate  all  things  but  thee  —  shun  men,  like  snakes  — 
Women,  like  pits.     To  me  thou  art  all  woman  — 
All  life  —  all  love,  and  more  than  all  my  kind. 
I  love  thee  more  than  I  shall  love  and  look  for 
Death,  if  he  takes  thee  from  me.     But  who  dreams 
Of  death  and  thee  together  1 

Elissa.  I  do  oft: 

And  as  oft  wish  dreams  would,  for  once,  come  true. 
The  best  of  all  things  are  dreams  realized. 

Festus.     Dreams  such  as  gods  may  dream  thy  soul 
possess 
Forever  in  the  Hadean  Eden  —  Death  : 
But  bless  thy  lover  with  reality ! 
Then  thou  shalt  live  forever,  and  with  me. 
I  have  gone  round  the  compass  of  all  life, 
And  can  find  nought  worthy  of  thee.     I  but  feel, 
That  were  I  —  as  I  ought  to  be  —  a  god, 
I  would  just  sacrifice  the  sun  to  thee. 
In  bright  and  burning  honor  of  thy  love. 
Miracles  are  not  miracles  with  gods. 

Elissa.     Dearer  thou  canst  not  be  to  me,  unless 
I  die  in  telling  how  dear. 

Festus.  My  Elissa! 

I  —  I  am  bewildered :    open  but  thine  arms  ! 
And  make  me  happy  and  all  wise  of  thee. 
My  soul  is  stung  with  thy  beauty  to  the  quick. 


532  FESTUS. 

Oh !   but  thuu  art  too  good,  or  else  too  bad : 
Be  colder,  or  be  warmer! 

Elissa.  Leave  me! 

Festus.  Well : 

It  is  most  cruel  —  first  to  light  the  heart 
With  love  completely  —  boundlessly  ;    and  then, 
Moonlike,  slowly  to  edge  aside,  and  leave 
One  only  little  line  of  all  so  bright. 
Once  —  teach  and  unteach  —  nay,  to  use  more  arts 
Than  would  outdo  the  devil  of  his  throne. 
To  make  us  ignorant  of  all  we  know :  — 
To  take  the  heart  to  pieces  carefully  — 
For  it  is  love  alone  can  build  the  heart  — 
To   root    the   tree    up   'neath   whose   shade   we   have 

lived. 
And  give  us  back  a  sliver.     Let  it  die  ! 

Elissa.     Hark!  he  is  coming. 

Festus.  No  !     He  cannot  come ; 

For  I  have  driven  an  oath  into  his  heart. 
And  I  have  hung  a  curse  about  his  neck, 
Might  sink  the  prince  of  air  into  the  centre. 

Elissa.     All   I   have   done,    I    have    done   to   save 
ourselves. 

Festus.     Then  let  us  perish!     But  unless  we  sin 
We  cannot  perish.     Have!   Have!   cries  a  voice, 
As  of  a  crowd,  within  me.     I  would  do  aught 
To  throw  this  dark  desire  which  wrestles  with  me. 
It  answers  not  to  hold  it  at  arms'  length: 
It  must  be  hurled,  dashed,  trampled  down.  —  I  can't. 


FESTUS.  533 

Lady !   how  long  am  I  to  love  thee  thus  1 
Never  did  angel  love  its  Heaven  —  nor  king 
Crown,  as  I  thee. 

Elissa.  I  feared  how  it  would  end. 

Can  nothing  less  than  sinning  sate  the  soul  ] 
Can  nothing  but  perdition  serve  to  nest 
Our  hearts,  after  so  sweet  a  flight  of  love? 

Festus.     The  might   and    truth  of  hearts   is  never 
shown 
But  in  loving  those  whom  we  ought  not  to  love  — 
Or  cannot  have.     The  wrong,  the  suffering,  is 
Its  own  reward. 

Eltssa.  Let  me  not  wrong  thee,  Festus. 

Let  me  not  think  I  have  thought  too  well  of  thee. 
Be  as  thou  wast!     What  will  become  of  us? 

Festus.     Be   mine !   be   me !   be   aught   but  so   fai 
from  me ! 
Give  me  thyself!     It  is  not  enough  for  me 
That  I  have  gazed  and  doted  on  thee  till 
Mine  eye  is  dazzled  and  my  brain  is  dizzied : 
Thou  must  exhaust  all  senses ;  not  enough 
That  in  long  dreams  my  soul  hath  spread  itself 
Like  water  over  every  living  line 
Of  this  sweet  make,  dreaming  thou  wast  all  lips; 
Nor  that  it  now  sinks  in  the  face  of  thee. 
Like  a  sea  sunset,  hot  and  tired  with  the  long, 
Long  day  of  love :  —  it  is  not  enough.     I  must 
Have  more  —  have  all !     For  I  have  sworn  to  All 
Mine  arms  with  bliss  —  thus  —  thus —  thus  ! 


534  FESTUS. 

Elissa.  Festus ! 

Lucifer,  entering.  Friend! 

Did  ye  not  know  me"?     It  was  I  who  sang. 

Elissa.     It  was  he  ! 

Festus.  Thou  —  , 

Lucifer.     Hush  !   thou  art  not  to  utter  what 
I  am.     Bethink  thee ;    it  was  our  covenant. 
I  said  that  I  would  see  thee  once  again. 

Elissa.     Thou  didst :   and  I  must  thank  thee. 

Lucifer.  Hear  me  now  ! 

Thou  knowest  well  what  once  I  was  to  thee: 
One  w^ho  for  love  of  one  I  loved  —  for  thee  — 
Would  have  done  or  borne  the  sins  of  all  the  world: 
Who  did  thy  bidding  at  thy  lightest  look; 
And  had  it  been  to  have  snatched  an  angel's  crown 
Off  her  bright  brow  as  she  sat  singing,  throned, 
I  would  have  cut  these  heartstrings  that  tie  down, 
And  let    my  soul   have   sailed   to   Heaven,  and  done 

it- 
Spite  of  the  thunder  and  the  sacrilege. 
And  laid  it  at  thy  feet.     I  loved  thee,  lady! 
I  am  one  whose  love  was  greater  than  the  world's, 
And  might  have  vied  with  God's  :  a  boundless  ring, 
All  pressing  on  one  point — that  point  thy  heart. 
And  now  —  but  shall  I  call  on  my  revenge  \  — 
It  is  at  hand  in  armies.     Thou  art  a  woman  ; 
And  that  is  saying  the  best  and  worst  of  thee. 
I  know  that  vengeance  is  the  part  of  God; 
And  can  make  myself  almighty  for  the  moment. 


FESTUS.  535 

For  what?   for  nothing.     Thou  art  utter  nothing. 
Thus  it  was  always  with  me  when  with  thee; 
And  I  forget  my  purpose  and  my  wrongs 
In  looking  and  in  loving.     But  I  hate  thee. 
To  say  that  thou  didst  love  me !     Curse  the  air 
That  bore  the  sound  to  me !     Forgive  me,  God ! 
If  I  blaspheme,  it  is  not  at  Thee,  but  her. 
I'd  not  believe  her  were  she  saved  in  Heaven ! 
There  is  no  blasphemy  in  love  but  doubt; 
No  sin,  but  to  deceive. 

Festus.  Then  is  she  sinless. 

She  loved  thee  first  —  then  me.     What  wouldst  thou 

more? 
Thy  heart's   embrace,   though   close,   was,   snake-like, 

cold ; 
And  mine  was  warm,  and,  what  is  more,  was  welcome. 
Lucifer.     Patience !  I  spake  not,  cared  not,  thought 

not,  of  thee. 
Now  I  forgive  thy  having  loved  another ; . 
And  I  forgive  —  but  never  mind  it  now ; 
I  have  forgiven  so  much,  there  is  nothing  left 
To  make  more  words  about :  but,  for  the  future, 
I  will  as  soon  attempt  to  entice  a  star 
To  perch  upon  my  finger,  or  the  wind 
To  follow  me  like  a  dog,  as  think  to  keep 
A  woman's  heart  again.     Answer  me  not! 
Let  me  say  what  I  have  to  say  and  go. 
Thou  art  all  will  and  passion ;    that  is  thine 
Excuse  and  condemnation. 


536  FESTUS. 

Elissa.  While  tliat  will 

Was  love  to  thee,  I  saw  no  harm,  nor  thou. 
And  if  my  heart  hath  gained,  it  was  not  I 
Who  put  it  on  —  nor  could  it  help  going  wrong. 

Lucifer.     Oh !    I    have    heard,    what   rather   tnan 
have  heard, 
I  would  have  stopped  mine  ears  with  thunder:  words 
That  have  gone  singing  through  my  soul,  like  arrows 
Through  the  air. 

Elissa.  I  never  will  defend  myself 

For  I  despise  defence  like  accusation  — 
And  now  look  down  on  them  and  thee  together. 

Lucifer.      Now    let    us    part,    or    I    shall    die   of 
wrath. 
Be  my  estrangement  perfect  as  my  love ! 

Elissa.     Part,  then ! 

Lucifer.     Thank  God  it  is  for  eternity! 

Elissa.     I  do.     Away! 

Lucifer.  Festus !  I  wait  for  thee. 

1  have  fulfilled  the  word  between  us  passed. 
So  far  as  is  permitted  me.     Look  back: 
There  is  little  unaccomplished. 

Festus.  One  thing  yet. 

Lucifer.     And  that  mayhap  anon.    Wouldst  rather 
power 
To  sow  in  millions  or  in  units  reap] 

Festus.     Spirit,  beyond   compute,  beyond  compare, 
Both  I  must  have. 

Lucifer.  So  then  this  mutual  love 


FESTUS.  537 

Must  be  put  by,  which  is  to  neither  gain, 
Honor,  nor  need. 

Festus.  Well,  I  will  think  of  it. 

Lucifer.     It  is  thought  and  said;   and  I  will  lead 
thee  where 
Thou  shalt  perceive  earth  spirit-wise,  and  know 
All  nature  tributary. 

Festus.  That  were  well. 

But  come,  thou  art  not  the  first  deceived  in  love  ; 
Yet  love  is  not  so  much  love  as  a  dream, 
Which  hath,  it  seems,  like  guerdon  with  the  thing — 
The  staring  madness  when  we  wake  and  find 
That  what  we  have  loved,  must  love,  is  not  that 
We  meant  to  love.     Perhaps  I  profited 
Too  much  by  thy  good  lessons. 

Lucifer.  Lady !   ere 

I  hence,  grant  yet  one  favor.     Take  this  rose, 
Fresh  from  its  parent  stem ;   make  much  of  it ; 
And  as  it  fades,  let  all  remembrance  fade 
Of  him  who  gave. 

Elissa.  I  cast  it  down  at  once. 

The  eagle  needs  no  omens  who  himself 
Is  to  all  ominous ;    and  not  with  me 
Shall  memory,  like  a  whirlpool  'neath  a  fall. 
Whose  watery  resurrection  scares  the  bold. 
Revolve  the  mangled  moments  of  the  past 
In  wearisome  dissolution  ;   no  !   at  once  — 

Lucifer.     The  furies  hint  it,  and  the  fates  advise; 
Like  that !   well,  let  it  perish. 

68 


538  FESTUS. 

Festus.  Go!  I  follow. 

Lucifer,   going.     Now    therefore    would   I    wager, 
and  I  might 
The  great  archangel's  trump  to  a  dog-whistle, 
That  whatsoever  happens,  worse  ensues. 

Festus.     Forgive  me,  love,  for  having  brought  this 
on  thee! 

Elissa.     The  love  which  giveth  all,  forgiveth  aught. 
And  thou  art  more  to  me  than  Earth  or  Heaven. 
They  have  but  given  life :    thou  gavest  me  love, 
The  lord  of  life  — ^  thou,  my  life !   love,  and  lord  ! 
Take  me  again  !   my  kindest  —  dearest  —  best ! 
Him  who  hath  gone  I  never  loved  like  thee. 
There  was  a  desolation  in  his  eye 
1  could  not  brook  to  look  on;   for  it  seemed 
As  though  it  ate  the  light  out  of  mine  own. 
I  think  that  thou  dost  love  me. 

Festus.  And  I  think. 

For  perfect  love  there  should  be  but  one  god — 
One  worshipper. 

Elissa.  We  knoAv  the  gods  of  old 

Worshipped  each  other  —  equal  deities. 
For  the  sweet  poets  surely  spake  the  truth 
About  the  gods;    they  dare  not  speak  but  truth. 

Festus.     Who  but  thyself  would  speak  of  poetry. 
^Vhile  thou  art  by]   who  art  the  very  breathing 
Beauty  which  bards  may  seek  ideally. 
And  dost  thou,  then,  believe  the  gods  of  old  — 
Those  toys  and  playthings  of  an  infant  world] 


FESTUS.  539 

Elissa.     If  I  do  not  believe,  I  do  not  scorn  them; 
Nay,  I  could  mourn  for  them  and  pray  for  them. 
I  can  scorn  nothing  which  a  nation's  heart 
Hath  held,  for  ages,  holy :   for  the  heart 
Is  alike  holy  in  its  strength  and  weakness : 
It  ought  not  to  be  jested  with,  nor  scorned. 
All  things,  to  me,  are  sacred  that  have  been. 
And  though  earth,  like  a  river,  streaked  with  blood. 
Which  tells  a  long  and  silent  tale  of  death. 
May  blush  her  history  and  hide  her  eyes. 
The  past  is  sacred  —  it  is  God's,  not  ours. 
Let  her  and  us  do  better  if  we  can. 

Festus.      There   are   whole   veins   of    diamonds   in 
thine  eyes, 
Might  furnish  crowns  for  all  the  queens  of  earth. 
Oh !   I  could  sooner  set  a  price  on  the  sun, 
My  love,  than  on  thy  lightest  look.     Look  on  me ! 
Speak !   if  it  only  be  to  say  thou  wilt  not. 
Look!   I  would  rather  look  on  thee  one  minute, 
Than  paradise  for  a  whole  day  —  such  days 
As  are  in  Heaven.     I  love  thee  more  and  more. 

Elissa.      To  love,  and   say  we  love  —  to  suck  the 
sting 
Out  of  the  heart,  and  put  its  poison  on 
The  tongue. 

Festus.  Yet  it  is  luxury  to  feel 

Inflamed  —  to  glow  within  ourselves,  like  fire-opals. 
Now,  stay  thy  pretty  little  tuneful  tongue, 
Nor  silver  o'er  thy  syllables !     They  will  not 


540  FESTUS. 

Pass.     No,  not  one  more  word !     I  must  away ; 
I  have  staid  too  long,  already,  for  my  word. 

Elissa.     I  cannot  part  with  thee:  nay,  sit  again! 
Parted  from  thee  I  feel  like  one  half  riven, 
And  my  soul  acheth  to  spring  to  —  as  thus! 

Festus.     There !  let  me  leave,  love !   let   me  loose 
these  arms. 
Another  time,  and,  ah  !   well  —  never  mind ! 
We  shall  be  happier  —  I  know  we  shall. 
Thou   hast   been   mine  —  thou   art   mine  —  and   thou 

shalt  be ! 
My  parting  gift  thou  wilt  not,  sweet,  refuse. 
Nor  would  I  proffer  aught  which  emblemed  less 
Than  life  celestial  and  the  light  divine. 
Expect  me  ere  it  wither ;  ere  the  scent. 
Sweet  effluence  of  its  perfectness  of  leaf. 
Hath  fled  its  starry  censer,  look  for  me. 
Let  the  death-destined  perish.     "We  shall  live. 

Elissa.      My  life   is   one   long   lo\ing   thought   of 
thee. 
If  any  ask  me  what  I  do,  I  could  say 
I  love,  and  that  is  all. 

Festus.  It  is  enough. 

One  kiss !   another  !   one  more  —  there  !   farewell ! 

Elissa.      And  he  is   gone!   and   the   world   seems 
gone  with  him. 
Shine  on,  ye  Heavens !   why  can  ye  not  impart 
Light  to  my  heart  1     Have  ye  no  feeling  in  ye  ? 
Why  are  ye  bright  when  I  am  so  unhappy? 


FESTUS.  541 

But  Oh !    I  would  not  change  my  woes  for  thrice; 

The  bliss  of  others,  since  they  are  for  thee,  love. 

Our  very  wretchedness  grows  dear  to  us 

When  suffering  for  one  we  love.     Sweet  stars ! 

I  cannot  look  upon  your  loveliness 

Without  sadness,  for  ye  are  too  beautiful ; 

And  beauty  makes  unhappy:  so  men  say. 

Ye  stars!  it  is  true  —  we  read  our  fate  in  ye. 

Bright  through  all  ages,  are  ye  not  happy  there  ] 

With  years,  many  as  your  light-rays,  are  ye  not 

Immortal  1     Space-pervading,  Oh!  ye  must  be, 

Spirit-like,  infinite.     All-being  God! 

Who  art  in  all  things,  and  in  whom  all  are !  — 

And  it  is  thus  we  worship  Thee  the  most; 

When  heart  to  heart  with  one  we  love  we  are  gods  ;  — 

Let  us  believe  that  if  Thou  gavest  earth 

For  our  bodies,  then  the  stars  were  for  our  souls; 

For  perfect  beauty  and  unbounded  love ! 

Let  us  believe  they  look  upon  us  here 

As  their  inheritors,  and  save  themselves 

For  us,  as  we  for  Thee,  and  Thou  for  all ! 


Scene  —  The  Sun, 

Festus.     Soul  of  the  world,  divine  Necessity, 
Servant  of  God,  and  master  of  all  things ! 
Here,  in  the  Heaven  of  Light's  eternal  noon. 
First  see  I  all  things  clear :  from  end  to  end 


542  FESTUS. 

The  divine  cycle  of  the  soul  of  man; 

How  spirit,  soul,  mind,  life,  flesh,  feeling,  mix, 

And  how  withal  they  each  reciprocate. 

As  ocean,  earth,  air,  fire,  and  wind;  how  flow 

The  streams  of  feeling,  and  the  cataracts 

Of  passion ;  mine  and  mountain,  this  of  pride. 

And  that  of  covetousness.     Man  I  know; 

The  human  universe,  and  the  divine 

And  central  fate ;   know  all  must  be  fulfilled 

Of  nature  that  there  is ;   of  sin  and  strife, 

Peace,  righteousness,  change,  self-delusion,  self- 

Destruction,  ere  the  earth  can  take  new  life. 

Or  man  become  the  minister  of  God. 

The  world  and  man  are  just  reciprocal. 

Yet  contrary.     Spirit  invadeth  sense. 

And  carries  captive  Nature.     Be  this  true. 

All  good  is  Heaven,  and  all  ill  is  Hell. 

All  things  are  means  for  greater  good.     Thou,  Sun! 

Art  just  a  giant  slave,  a  god  in  bonds. 

The  summit-flower  of  all  created  life 

Is  its  unition  with  Divinity, 

In  essence,  yet  existence  separate. 

High  o'er  my  own  existence,  here  then  I 

Look  down  upon  the  nature  and  the  earth. 

Yet  mine,  whose  separate  and  combined  ends 

Have  still  to  be  evolved.     How  wide  men  miss, 

While  in  the  lower  world  of  soul  and  sense. 

In  aiming  even  at  life-ruling  truth  — 

Formless  as  air,  simple  and  one  as  Death. 


FESTUS.  543 

If  Heaven  and  all  its  stars  depend  on  Earth, 

Then  may  eternity  on  time ;  —  not  else. 

But  since  now  Earth  is  as  a  crum  of  Heaven, 

And  time  an  atom  of  eternity, 

Neither  depends  upon  the  other,  both 

One  essence  being  emanant  from  God, 

Whose  flowings  forth  are  aye  and  infinite, 

And  radiant  as  the  rivers  of  the  skies. 

One  only  truth  hath  consequence  —  God's  truth 

Inspirited  in  man.     Mere  human  truth 

Or  falsehood  matters  not.     The  world  may  act. 

Believe,  or  bless,  or  curse,  as  best  it  lists. 

Yet  men  expend  life,  solemnizing  points 

Uncertain  as  the  site  of  Paradise 

And  area  of  Hades.     Not  the  less. 

There  is  no  disappointment  we  endure 

One  half  so  great  as  that  we  are  to  ourselves. 

We  make  our  hearts  the  centres  of  all  hopes. 

All  powers,  all  rewards,  remembering  not 

That  centres  are  imaginary  points. 

Imaginary  circles  only  too 

Are  perfect;   therefore,  draw  life  as  we  may, 

Round  as  a  world  or  as  an  atom  round, 

And  pure  as  virgin  visionary's  dream, 

Or  perfect  faith's  regenerative  wave  — 

It  fails  to  match  the  true  invisible 

Whereof  we  labor.     It  is  come  to  this. 

One  state  of  life  with  me  hath  passed  away. 

Aught  henceforth  that  may  matter  be  of  doubt 


544  FESTUS. 

To  me  is  matter  of  indifference.     I 

Love  only  that  is  certain.     Me  no  more 

The  spirits  of  the  bright  invisible 

Shall  throng  round  as  the  winds  some  mountain  top ; 

Nor  watery  lightfulness  of  ghostly  eyes, 

Belonging  heavenly  forms  informed  with  light, 

Impose  their  spell  of  record  under  pain. 

The  inspiration  quits  me  —  it  is  gone  — 

Like  a  retreating  army  from  the  land 

Which  it  hath  wasted  —  the  long  gleaming  mass, 

Snakelike,  at  last  hath  wound  itself  away. 

And  left  me  weak  and  wretched.     None  again 

Of  all  the  starry  tribes  of  shining  mien  — 

Swifter  than  undulations  of  the  light, 

A  million  in  a  moment,  multiform 

As  atomies  of  air  —  shall  visit  me  ; 

Their  word  of  leave  is  taken  back  —  henceforth, 

Eestricted  to  perfection,  earth  they  quit. 

True,  albeit,  I  loved  them  more  than  life; 

I  felt  myself  made  sacred  by  their  touch :  — 

But  they  are  gone,  and  there  is  nought  on  earth 

Left  acceptable.     Fiery  shadows,  hence ! 

I  have  outbraved  ye  once.     It  matters  not. 

I  have  left  all  for  one;   Truth's  countless  rays 

For  Truth  itself;  the  mean  for  the  supreme, 

The  dubitable  for  the  throned  power. 

Yet  thus  I  cannot  rest.     The  mightiest  sphere 

Is  not  for  man.     The  elements  of  mind 

And  matter  are  proportioned  in  aU  worlds; 


FESTUS.  *  D  Id 

The  flither  they  and  mother  of  all  things. 

And  earth  hath  favor  over  crowds  of  stars. 

I  must  reseek  earth.     Still  what  boots  it  now, 

To  plunge  in  pleasure  or  to  passion  bow, 

The  very  lion-honey  of  the  heart 

Which  dwelleth  in  corruption]     Yet,  perchance, 

'Twere  wisdom  to  extract  it  while  we  may. 

The  oak,  as  lily,  feels  the  lightest  breeze. 

The  ineradicable  seed  is  sown 

Of  love  in  life,  and,  tide-like,  'twill  have  way 

O'er  the  impalaced  prisoner  of  the  breast. 

The  thirst  for  power  and  knowledge  still  exists, 

And  meets  with  dizzy  mixture  in  the  brain. 

If  suffering  could  expiate  offence. 

They  who  have  most  enjoyed  have  most  atoned, 

It  may  be,  humanly ;  —  but  it  cannot. 

Earth-like,  the  heart  must  undergo  all  change 

Ere  the  superior  life  be  formed  therein, 

The  chastity  of  heart  which  loves  but  God. 

Life's  sensuous  warmth,  the  spirit's  holy  chill. 

Time's  week-day  work,  have  yet  to  be  gone  through 

The  hortus  siccus  of  a  paradise 

Is  all  earth  now  can  boast.     To  God  belongs 

The  autumn  of  all  nature.     But,  alas ! 

Not  yet  can  we  o'ercome  our  nature  here. 

Would  we.     If  therefore  passion  strike  the  heart. 

Let  it  have  length  of  line  and  plenteous  play. 

The  safety  of  superior  principles 

Lies  in  exhaustion  of  the  lower  ones, 

69  XT* 


546  FESTUS. 

However  vast  or  violent.     Men  and  angels 

Obey  the  order  of  existence.     Fate ! 

Who  seeks  thee  every  where  will  find  thee  there. 


Scene  —  Garden  and  Bower  hy  the  Sea. 

Elissa,  alone.     Come,  Festus,  let  me  think  on  thee, 

my  love ! 
And  fold  the  thought  of  thee  unto  my  soul, 
Until  it  fills  it  and  is  one  with  it. 
Ah !  these  poor  arms  are  far  from  where  they  should 

be; 
And  this  heart  farther  still.     Mine  only  love! 
Why  art  thou  thus  so  long  away  from  me'? 
I  have  whispered  it  unto  the  southern  wind, 
And  charged  it  with  my  love:  why  should  it  not 
Carry  that  love  to  thee  as  air  bears  light? 
And  thou  hast  said  I  was  all  light  to  thee. 
The  stars  grow  bright  together,  and  for  aye, 
liover-like,  watch  each  other;  and  though  apart. 
Like  us,  they  fill  each  other's  eyes  with  love 
And  beauty:   and  mine  only  fill  with  tears. 
Oh !  life  is  less  than  nothing  without  love  ! 
And  what  is  love  without  the  embrace  of  love  ? 
I  would  give  worlds  for  one  more,  ere  I  die. 
Festus!  come  to  me.     I  do  think  I  am  dying. 
Let  me  bequeath  my  life  to  thee,  that  so. 
In  doubling  thine,  I  may  live  alway  with  thee. 


FESTUS.  547 

I  know  that  I  am  dying.     It  is  my  heart 

Which  makes  me  live  that  kills  me.     But  I  want 

To  see  him  ere  I  do  die.     Oh !  he  will  come  ! 

He  must  know  how  I  love  him.     It  is  long  — 

Long  since  I  saw  him :   I  am  ill  with  waiting. 

And  I  will  fancy  him  coming  to  me  now  — 

Xow  he  is  thinking  of  me,  loving  me  — 

He  sees  me  —  flies  to  me,  half  out  of  breath  — 

His  hand  is  on  my  arm  —  he  looks  on  me  — 

And   puts    my   long    locks    backwards  —  God  !    Thy 

ban 
Lies  upon  waking  dreams.     To  weep  and  sleep  — 
Dream — wake,  and  find  one's  only  one  hope  false, — 
Is  what  we  can  bear,  for  we  do  endure  it, 
And  bear  with  Heaven  still.     Just  one  year  ago, 
I  watched  that  large  bright  star  where  it  is  now :  — 
Time  hath  not  touched  its  everlasting  lightning. 
Nor  dimmed  the  glorious  glances  of  its  eye  — 
Nor  passion  clouded  it  —  nor  any  star 
Eclipsed — it  is  the  leader  still  of  Heaven. 
And  I  who  loved  it  then  can  love  it  now; 
But  am  not  what  I  was,  in  one  degree. 
Calm  star !   who  was  it  named  thee  Lucifer, 
From  him  who  drew  the  third  of  Heaven  down  with 

him? 
Oh !  it  was  but  the  tradition  of  thy  beauty ! 
For  if  the  sun  hath  one  part,  and  the  moon  one, 
Thou  hast  the  third  part  of  the  host  of  Heaven  — 
Which  is  its  power  —  which  power  is  its  beauty ! 


548  FESTUS. 

Lucifer.     It  was  no  tradition,  lady,  but  of  truth ! 

Elissa.     I  thought  we  parted  last  to  meet  no  more. 

Lucifer.     It  was  so,  lady ;  but  it  is  not  so. 

Elissa.     Am  I  to  leave,  or  thou,  thenl 

Lucifer.  Neither,  yet. 

I  mean  that  thou  shouldst  fear  me,  and  obey. 

Elissa.     And  who  art  thou  that  I  should  fear  and 
serve  ? 

Lucifer.     I  am  the  morning  and  the  evening  star, 
The  star  thou  lovest,  and  thy  lover  too ; 
I  am  that  star!  as  once  before  I  told  thee, 
Though  thou  wouldst  not  believe  me,  but  I  am 
A  spirit,  and  a  star  —  a  power  —  an  ill 
Which  doth  outbalance  being.     Look  at  me ! 
Am  I  not  more  than  mortal  in  my  form  ] 
Millions  of  years  have  circled  round  my  brow, 
Like  worlds  upon  their  centres  ;  —  still  I  live ; 
And  age  but  presses  with  a  halo's  weight. 
This  single  arm  hath  dashed  the  light  of  Heaven; 
This  one  hand  dragged  the  angels  from  their  thrones. 
Am  I  not  worthy  to  have  loved  thee,  lady? 
Thou  mortal  model  of  all  heavenliness ! 
And  yet  I  have  abandoned  all  these  spoils. 
Cowered  my  powers,  and  becalmed  my  course, 
And  stooped  from  the  high  destruction  of  the  skies 
For  thee,  and  for  the  youth  who  loveth  thee  — 
And  is  lost  with  thee:  ye  are  both,  both  —  lost! 
Thou  hast  but  served  the  purpose  of  the  Fiend. 
And  thou  art  but  the  vessel  of  the  sin 


FESTUS.  549 

Whose  poison  hath  made  drunk  a  soul  to  death ; 
And  he  hath  drunk;  and  thou  art  useless  now. 
And  it  is  for  this  I  come  —  to  bid  thee  die ! 

Elissa.     I  said  that  I  was  dying.     God  is  good. 
The  Heavens  grow  darker  as  they  grow  the  purer 
And  both,  as  we  do  near  them;  so,  near  death, 
The  soul  grows  darker  and  diviner,  hourly. 
Could  I  love  less  I  should  be  happier ! 
But  it  is  always  to  that  mad  extreme. 
That  death  alone  appears  the  fitting  finish 
To  bliss  like  that  my  spirit  presses  for. 

Lucifer.     Thy  death  shall  be  as  gentle  as  thy  life. 
I  will  not  hurt  thee,  for  I  loved  thee  once. 
And  thy  sweet  love,  upon  my  burning  breast, 
Fell  like  a  snowfiake  on  a  fevered  lip. 
Thy  soul  shall  pass  out  of  thee  like  a  dream. 
One  moment  more,  and  thou  shalt  wake  in  Heaven  ! 

Elissa.      I    ever    thought    thee    to   be    more    than 
mortal. 
And  if  thou  art  thus  mighty,  grant  me  this  1  — 
Since  now  we  love  no  more  —  as  friend  to  friend  — 
Bring  him  I  love,  one  moment,  ere  I  die. 

Lucifer.      Thou     judgest    well  ;     I    am    all    but 
almighty. 
And  I  have  stretched  my  strength  unto  its  limits 
To  satisfy  the  heart  of  him  who  loves  thee: 
In  proof  whereof,  did  I  not  give  up  thee, 
Because  he  loved  thee  ?    I  have  given  him  all  things 
Body  or  spirit  could  desire  or  have. 


550  FESTUS. 

And  even,  at  this  moment,  now  he  reigns 
King  of  the  sun,  and  monarch  of  the  seven 
Orbs  that  surround  him  —  leaving  earth  alone  — 
The  earth  is  in  good  keeping  as  it  is. 
I  know  that  he  is  hasting  hither  now; 
But  may  not  see  thee  living. 

Elissa.  It  is  not  thou 

Who  takest  life :   it  is  God,  whose  I  shall  be  !  — 
And  his,  with  God,  whom  here  my  heart  deifies. 
I  glory  in  his  power  as  in  his  love. 
But  I  will,  will  see  him,  while  I  am  alive. 
I  hear  him  —  he  is  come  —  it  is  he  !   it  is  he  ! 

Lucifer.      Die  !    thou    shalt    never    look    on    him 
again. 

Elissa.     My  love !  haste,  Festus !  I  am  dying  — 

Lucifer.  Dead ! 

A  word  could  kill  her.     She  hath  gone  to  Heaven. 

Festus.      Fiend!   what  is   this?     Elissa!  —  she   is 
not  dead. 

Lucifer.     She  is.    I  bade  her  die,  as  I  had  reason. 

Festus.     Now  do   I   hate  thee   and   renounce  for- 
ever !  — 
Abhor  thee  —  go  ! 

Lucifer.  Who  seeks  the  other  first? 

T  am  gone. 

Festus.        Away,  Fiend !    Leave  me  !    My  Elissa  ' 


FESTUS.  551 


Scene — A  Library  and  Balcony  —  A  Summer  Night. 

Festus,  alone.     The  last  high  upward  slant  of  sun 
on  the  trees, 
Like  a  dead  soldier's  sword  upon  his  pall, 
Seems  to  console  earth  for  the  glory  gone. 
Oh !   I  could  weep  to  see  the  day  die  thus ; 
The  death  bed  of  a  day,  how  beautiful ! 
Linger,  ye  clouds,  one  moment  longer  there ; 
Fan  it  to  slumber  with  your  golden  wings  ! 
Like  pious  prayers  ye  seem  to  soothe  its  end. 
It  will  wake  no  more  till  the  all-revealing  day; 
When,  like  a  drop  of  water,  greatened  bright 
Into  a  shadow,  it  shall  show  itself 
With  all  its  little  tyrannous  things  and  deeds, 
Unhomed  and  clear.     The  day  hath  gone  to  God, — 
Straight,  like  an  infant's  spirit,  or  a  mocked 
And  mourning  messenger  of  grace  to  man. 
Would  it  had  taken  me,  too,  on  its  wing! 
My  end  is  nigh.     Would  I  might  die  outright! 
And  slip  the  coil  without  waiting  it  unwind. 
So  o'er  the  sunset  clouds  of  red  mortality 
The  emerald  hues  of  deathlessness  diffuse 
Their  glory,  heightening  to  the  starry  blue 
Of  all  imbosoming  eternity. 
Who  that  hath  lain  lonely  on  a  high  hill, 
In  the  imperious  silence  of  full  noon, 
With  nothing  but  the  clear  dark  sky  about  him, — 


552  FESTUS. 

Like  God's  hand  laid  upon  the  head  of  earth, — 

But  hath  expected  that  some  natural  spirit 

Should  start  out  of  the  universal  air  — 

And,  gathering  his  cloudy  robe  around  him, 

As  one  in  act  to  teach  mysterious  things, 

Explain  that  he  must  die  1  —  that  having  got 

As  high  as  earth  can  lift  him  up  —  as  far 

Above  that  thing,  the  world,  as  flesh  can  mount  — 

Over  the  tyrant  wind,  and  the  clouded  lightning, 

And  the  round  rainbow  —  and  that  having  gained 

A  loftier  and  a  more  mysterious  beauty 

Of  feeling  —  something  like  a  starry  darkness 

Seizing  the  soul  —  say  he  must  die  —  and  vanish  ? 

Who  hath  not,  at  such  moments,  felt,  as  now 

I  feel,  that,  to  be  happy,  we  must  die] 

And  here  I  rest  —  above  the  world  and  its  ways ; 

The  wind,  opinion  —  and  the  rainbow,  beauty  — 

And  the  thunder,  superstition  —  I  am  free 

Of  all ;  —  save  death,  what  want  I  to  be  happy  1 

And  shall  I  leave  no  trace,  then,  of  my  life] 

The  soul  begetteth  shadows  of  itself 

Which  do  outlive  their  author ;   and  are  more 

Substantial  than  all  nature,  and  the  red 

Realities  of  flesh  and  blood,  as  echo 

Is  longer,  louder,  farther  than  the  voice 

Of  man  can  thunder,  or  his  ear  report. 

And  oft  the  world  hath  deified  its  echoes. 

A  year  !  —  and  who  shall  find  them  ]     Can  it  be 

The  mind's  works  have  been  deathless  —  not  the  mind  ? 


FESTUS.  553 

Or  will  the  world's  immortals  die  with  me?  — 
The  sages,  and  the  heroes,  and  the  bards, — 
Whose  verse,  set  to  the  thunder  of  the  seas, 
Seems  as  immortal  as  their  ceaseless  music  ! 

0  God !   I  fain  would  deem  Thou  livest  not : 

And   that   this   world   hath    sprung   up  from    chance 

seed. 
Unknown  to  Thee ;   and  is  not  reckoned  on. 
Hell  solves  all  doubts.  —  Come  to  me,  Lucifer  ! 

Lucifer.     Lo  !  I  am  here :   and  ever  prompt  when 
called  for. 
How  speed  thy  general  pleasures  ] 

Festus.  Bravely !     Joys 

Are  bubble-like — what  makes  them,  bursts  them,  too. 
And  like  the  milky  way,  there  !  dim  with  stars. 
The  soul  which  numbers  most  will  shine  the  less. 

Lucifer.     No  matter  —  mind  it  not! 

Festus.  Yet,  joys  of  earth ! 

That  ye  should  ruin  spirits  is  too  hard. 
Who  can  avoid  ye  ]   who  can  say  ye  nay  ] 
Or  take  his  eyes  from  off  ye  ]  who  so  chaste  1 

Lucifer.      They    have    well    nigh    unimmortalized 
myself. 

Festus.     Yet  have  they  nought  to  sate  the  pining 
spirit 
Which  doth  enamor  immortality. 
No  !  they  are  all  base,  impure,  ruinous  — 
The  harlots  of  the  heart.     Forgive  me,  God ! 

1  am  getting  too  forlorn  to  live  —  too  waste. 

70  UD 


5o4  FESTUS. 

Aught  that  I  can  or  do  love  shoots  by  me 
Like  a  train  upon  an  iron  road.     And  yet 
I  need  not  now  reproach  mine  arm  or  aim; 
For  I  have  winged  each  pleasure  as  it  flew, 
How  swift  or  high  soever  in  its  flight. 
We  cannot  live  alone.     The  heart  must  have 
A  prop  without,  or  it  will  fall  and  break. 
But  nature's  common  joys  are  common  cheats. 
As  he  who  sails  southwards  beholds,  each  night, 
New  constellations  rise,  all  clear,  and  fair ; 
So,  o'er  the  waters  of  the  world,  as  we 
Reach  the  mid  zone  of  life,  or  go  beyond, 
Beauty  and  bounty  still  beset  our  course ; 
New  beauties  wait  upon  us  every  w^here ; 
New  lights  enlighten  and  new  worlds  attract. 
But  I  have  seen  and  I  have  done  with  all. 
Friendship  hath  passed  me  like  a  ship  at  sea; 
And  I  have'  seen  no  more  of  it.     I  had 
A  friend  with  whom,  in  boyhood,  I  was  wont 
To   learn,   think,   laugh,   weep,    strive,  and  love,   to- 
gether ; 
For  we  were  alway  rivals  in  all  things  — 
Together  up  high  springy  hills,  to  trace 
A  runnel  to  its  birthplace  —  to  pursue 
A  river  —  to  search,  haunt  old  ruined  towers, 
And  muse  in  them  —  to  scale  the  cloud-clad  hills 
While  thunders  murmured  in  our  very  ear; 
To  leap  the  lair  of  the  live  cataract. 
And  pray  its  foaming  pardon  for  the  insult; 


FESTUS.  555 

To  dare  the  broken  tree-bridge  across  the  stream; 
To  crouch  behind  the  broad  white  waterfall, 
Tongue  of  the  glen,  like  to  a  hidden  thought  — 
Dazzled,  and  deafened,  yet  the  more  delighted ; 
To  reach  the  rock  which  makes  the  fall  and  pool; 
There  to  feel  safe,  or  not  to  care  if  not ; 
To  fling  the  free  foot  over  my  native  hills, 
Which    seemed    to    breathe    the    bracing    breeze   we 

loved 
The  more  it  lifted  up  our  loosened  locks, 
That  nought  might  be  between  us  and  the  skies; 
Or,  hand  in  hand,  leap,  laughing,  with  closed  eyes, 
In  Trent's  death-loving  deeps;   yet  was  she  kind 
Ever  to  us;   and  bare  us  buoyant  up. 
And    followed    our    young    strokes,    and    cheered    us 

on  — 
Even  as  an  elder  sister  bending  above 
A  child,  to  teach  it  how  to  order  its  feet  — 
As  quick  we  dashed,  in  reckless  rivalry. 
To  reach,  perchance,  some  long  green  floating  flag  — 
Just  when  the  sun's  hot  lip  first  touched  the  stream. 
Reddening  to  be  so  kissed;  and  we  rejoiced, 
As  breasting  it  on  we  went  over  depth  and  death. 
Strong  in  the  naked  strife  of  elements, 
Toying  with  danger  in  as  little  fear 
As  with  a  maiden's  ringlets.     And  oft,  at  night. 
Bewildered  and  bewitched  by  favorite  stars. 
We  would  breathe  ourselves  amid  unfooted  snows, 
For  there  is  poetry  where  aught  is  pure; 


656  FESTUS. 

Or  over  the  still  dark  heath  leap  along,  like  harts, 

Through  the  broad  moonlight ;  for  we  felt  where'er 

We  leaped  the  golden  gorse,  or  lowly  ling. 

We  could  not  be  from  home.  —  That  friend  is  gone. 

There's  the  whole  universe  before  our  souls. 

Where  shall  we  meet  next"?     Shall  we  meet  again] 

Oh!  might  it  be  in  some  far  happy  world, 

That  I  may  light  upon  this  lonely  soul. 

Hard  by   some   broad  blue   stream,   where  high   the 

hills. 
Wood-bearded,  sweep  to  its  brink  —  musing,  as  wont, 
With  lovelike  sadness,  upon  sacred  things  ; 
For  much  in  youth  we  loved  and  mused  on  them. 
To  say  what  ought  to  be  to  human  wills, 
And  measure  morals  sternly ;    to  explore 
The  bearings  of  men's  duties  and  desires ; 
To  note  the  nature  and  the  laws  of  mind ; 
To  balance  good  with  evil,  and  compare 
The  nature  and  necessity  of  each ; 
To  long  to  see  the  ends  and  end  of  things ; 
Or,  if  no  end  there  be,  the  endless,  then. 
As  suns  look  into  space ;  these  were  our  joys  — 
Our  hopes  —  our  meditations  —  our  attempts. 
And  if  I  have  enjoyed  more  love  than  others. 
It  is  but  superior  suffering,  and  is  more 
Than  balanced  by  the  loss  of  one  we  love. 
And  love,  itself,  hath  passed.     One  fond,  fair  girl 
Remains ;  one  only,  and  she  loves  me  still. 
But  it  is  not  love  I  feel  —  it  is  pure  kindness. 


FESTDS.  557 

How  shall  I  find  another  like  my  lasf? 
The  golden  and  the  gorgeous  loveliness  — 
A  sunset  beauty !     Ah  !  I  saw  it  set. 
My  heart,  alas !  set  with  it.     I  have  drained 
Life  of  all  love,  as  doth  an  iron  rod 
The  Heavens  of  lightning ;   I  have  done  with  it, 
And  all  its  waking  woes,  and  dreamed-of  joys. 
No  more  shall  beauty  star  the  air  I  live  in ; 
And  no  more  will  I  wake  at  dead  of  night, 
And  hearken  to  the  roaring  of  the  wind. 
As  though  it  came  to  carry  one  away  — 
Claiming  for  sin.     Ah !  I  am  lost  forever. 
To  earn  the  world's  delights  by  equal  sins 
Seems  the  great  aim  of  life  —  the  aim  succeeds. 
Here  it  is  madness,  and  perdition  there. 
And,  but  for  thee,  I  had  renounced  these  joys  — 
These  cursed  joys  my  soul  now  writhes  among, 
Like  to  a  half-crushed  reptile  on  a  rose :  — 
Ay,  but  for  thee,  I  might  have  now  been  happy! 
Lucifer.      Why    charge,    why    wrong    me    thus  1 
When  first  I  knew  thee, 
I  deemed  it  thine  ambition  to  be  damned. 
Thine  every  thought,  almost,  had  gone  firom  good,     . 
As  far  as  finite  is  from  infinite; 
And  then  thou  wast  as  near  to  me  as  now. 
Thou  hadst  declined  in  worship,  and  in  wish 
To  please  thy  God ;   nor  wouldst  thou  e'er  repent. 
What  more  need  I  to  justify  attempt? 

UD* 


558  FESTUS. 

Have   I   shrunk   back  firom   granting  aught  I  prom- 
ised ? 
Thy  love  of  knowledge — is  that  satisfied  1 

Festus.      It    is.      Yet    knowledge    is    a    doubtful 
boon  — 
Root  of  all  good  and  fruit  of  all  that's  bad. 
I  have  caused  face  to  face  with  elements, 
Yea,  learned  the  luminous  language  of  the  skies, 
And  the  angelic  kindred  of  high  Heaven ; 
The  bright  articulations  of  all  spheres, — 
Impetuous  hearted  orbs,  and  mountain-maned. 
Aye  circling  onwards  breathless  through  the  air  — 
And  "wisest  stars  which  speak  themselves  in  signs 
Too  sacred  to  be  explicable  here ; 
And  now  what  better  am  I]  —  nearer  God] 
When  the  void  finds  a  voice  mine  answer  know. 

Lucifer.     What  better  or  what  worse  thou  canst 
not  tell. 
For,  good  and  evil!     Wherein  difier  they? 
Do  they  not  both  accrue  from  the  same  cause, — 
As  ripeness  and  decay  1     Light,  light  alone 
Of  hues,  how  contrary  soever,  is 
The  common  cause. 

Festus.  Distracter  of  God's  truth! 

Shall  not  His  word  suffice  the  living  world? 

Lucifer.     Thou  canst  not  have  lacked  joys? 

Festus.  We  seek  them  oft 

Among  our  own  delusions,  pains,  and  follies. 


FESTUS.  559 

Lucifer.     Hath  not  care  perished  from  thy  heart, 
as  did 
The  viper  flung  from  the  apostle's  hand] 

Festus.     Ay ;  and,  like  that,  all  care  will  cease  in 
fire. 
Dark  wretched  thoughts,  like  ice-isles  in  a  stream, 
Choke  up  my  mind,  and  clash ;  —  and  to  no  end. 
In  spite  of  all  we  suffer  and  enjoy. 
There  comes  this  question,  over  and  over  again, 
Driven  into  the  brain  as  a  pile  is  driven  — 
What  shall  become  of  us  hereafter  1  what 
Is  it  we  shall  do'?  how  feel,  how  bel 
And  there  are  times  when  burning  memory  flows 
In  on  the  mind,  that  saving  it  would  slay. 
As  did  the  lava  floods  which  choked  of  yore 
The  Cyclopean  cities  —  brimming  up, 
Brass-like,  their  mighty  moulds.     And  shall  the  past, 
Thus  ruinously  perfect,  aye  remain ; 
Or  present,  past,  and  coming,  all  be  one, 
In  natural  mystery]     Like  snow  which  lies 
Down-wreathed  round  the  lips  of  some  black  pit, 
Thoughts  which  obscure  the  truth  accumulate, 
And  those  which  solve  it  in  it  lose  themselves ; 
And  there  is  no  true  knowledge  till  descent. 
Nor  then  till  after.     What  shall  make  the  truth 
Visible  1     Through  the  smoky  glass  of  sense 
The  blessed  sun  would  never  know  himself. 
All  truth  is  one.     All  error  is  alike. 
The  shadow  of  a  mountain  hath  no  more 


560  FESTUS. 

Substance  than  hath  a  dead  and  moss-mailed  pine's; 

But  only  more  gigantic  impotence. 

Were  act  mind's  mate,  man  had  a  firm  hold  now 

On  the  immortal  future;  but  we  turn 

From  either  skyey  end,  star-garlanded. 

Teeming  with  light,  and  from  the  spirit  truths. 

Which  crown  all  worlds  to  gauds  and  lures  of  life 

All-formed,  and  beauty's  eyes  inspired  with  tears. 

Or  fired  with  mirth  conclusive,  and  so  lose 

Count  of  those  heavenly  spheres  we  meant  at  first 

To  reckon  to  the  last  atomic  light. 

But  how  shall  these  the  joys  and  cares  of  earth 

And  life's  vain  schemes  appear  to  the  great  soul. 

Which  hath  no  friend,  no  equal,  save  the  world; 

When  all  these  constellated  systems  known 

To  the  keen  ken  of  science,  space's  depths. 

And  the  whole  mighty  Heavens  that  bind  us  in, 

Hang  like  a  pale  speck,  doubtful  to  the  eye 

In  unimagined  distance  1     Is  it  thus 

Ordered  of  God,  lest  man's  weak  powers  should  fail, 

And  the  round  wall  of  madness  pound  us  in] 

Yea,  then  the  cares,  toils,  duties,  needs  of  life 

Are  blessings  in  the  highest  to  the  world. 

Eternity!  thou  boldest  in  thy  hand 

The  casket  of  all  secrets ;   death  the  key. 

And  now  what  seem  I  even  to  myself] 

The  impulse  of  life  ceaseth,  and  we  live 

On  the  rebound  of  being,  less  and  less. 

Till  the  minute  momentum  wholly  ends. 


FESTUS.  561 

As  soiae  vain  wind,  which,  having  wasted  life 

In  rounding  mountains,  and  their  shadowy  woods 

Made  lyre-like  vocal,  dies  at  last  at  sea. 

The  sun  sole  witness,  where  deep  brooding  spreads 

The  uttermost  circumference  of  a  calm'; 

So    the   soul,   struggling    through    life's    death-clouds, 

ends 
In  the  serene  Eternal.     May  it  be  ! 

Lucifer.     No   life   is  waste  in  the  great  Worker's 
hand. 
The  gem,  too  poor  to  polish  in  itself. 
Is  ground  to  brighten  others.     Courage,  friend ! 
Hast  thou  not  had  thine  every  quest] 

Festus.  Save  one. 

Lucifer.     I    proffer    now    the   power   which    thou 
dost  long  for. 
Say  but  the  word,  and  thou  shalt  press  a  throne 
But  less  than  mine  —  the  scarcely  less  than  God's ;  — 
A  throne,  at  which  earth's  puny  potentates 
May  sue  for  slavedoms  —  and  be  satisfied. 

Festus.     I  have  had  enough  of  the  infinities ; 
[  am  moderate  now.    I  will  have  the  throne  of  earth. 

Lucifer.     Thou  shalt.    Yet,  mind !  —  with  that  the 
world  must  end. 

Festus.     I  can  survive. 

Lucifer.  Nay,  die  with  it  must  thou. 

Festus.     Why  should  I  die?    I  am  egg-full  of  life; 
And  life's  as  serious  a  thing  as  death. 
The  world  is  in  its  first  young  quarter  yet; 

71 


562  FESTUS. 

I  dare  not,  cannot,  credit  it  shall  die. 
I  will  not  have  it,  then. 

Lucifer.  It  matters  not  ; 

I  know  thou  never  wilt  have  ease  at  heart 
Until  thou  hast  thy  soul's  whole,  full  desire; 
Whenever  that  may  happen,  all  is  done. 
Once  again,  therefore,  search  the  scroll  of  life ; 
Mark  what  is  done,  what  undone.     Lo !  in  love, 
Already  twice  hath  judgment  passed  upon  thee. 
Say,  hath  not  evil  wrought  its  own  revenge. 
And  death  the  only  guerdon  thou  hast  gained  1 
Let  then  mere  self-life  cease.     The  heart's  career 
Is  ended.     With  the  world  thy  part  is  now. 
The  depths  of  feeling,  passion,  pleasure,  woe. 
The  mysteries  and  dread  delights  of  spirit. 
All  thou  hast  sounded.     Now  behooves  to  live 
The  world  life  of  the  future  —  last  the  same 
One  instant  or  forever.     Bury  love. 
The  steed-like  world  stands  ready.     Mount  for  life. 

Festus.     Well,  then  —  be  it  now  !     I   live  but  foi 
myself  — 
The  whole   world  but  for   me.     Friends,   loves,   and 

all 
I  sought,  abandon  me.     It  is  time  to  die. 
I  am  yet  young ;  yet  have  I  been  deserted. 
And  wronged,  by  those  whom  most  I  have  loved  and 

served. 
Sun,  moon,  and  stars!  may  they  all  fall  on  me 
When  next  I  trust  another  —  man  or  woman. 


FESTUS.  563 

Earth  rivals  Hell  too  often,  at  the  hest. 
All  hearts  are  stronger  for  the  being  hollow; 
And  that  was  why  mine  was  no  match  for  theirs. 
The  pith  is  out  of  it  now.  —  Lord  of  the  world ! 
It  will  not  directly  perish  ? 

Lucifer.  Not,  perhaps. — 

Thou  wilt  have  all  fame,  while  thou  livest,  now. 

Festus.     I  care  not ;  fame  is  folly ;  for  it  is,  sure. 
Far  more  to  be  well  known  of  God  than  man. 
With  all  my  sins  I  feel  that  I  am  God's. 

Lucifer.     Farewell,  then,  for  a  time! 

Festus.  I  am  alone.  — 

Alone  ]     He  clings  around  me  like  the  clouds 
Upon  a  hill.     When  will  the  clouds  roll  off? 
When  will  the  sun  visit  me  ^     O  !  Thou  great  God ! 
In  whose  right  hand  the  elements  are  atoms  — 
In  whose  eye,  light  and  darkness  but  a  wink  — 
Who,  in  Thine  anger,  like  a  blast  of  cold, 
Dost    make     the    mountains     shake    like    chattering 

teeth  — 
Have  mercy!     Pity  me!     For  it  is  Thou 
Who    hast   fixed    me    to    this   test.     Wilt   Thou   not 

save] 
Forgive  me,  Father!  but  I  long  to  die:  — 
I  long  to  live  to  Thee,  a  pure,  free  mind. 
Take  again,  God!  and  thou,  fair  Earth,  the  form 
And  spirit  which,  at  first,  ye  lent  to  me. 
S"^'^    %H   they   were,  I   have   used   them.     Let   them 
part. 


664c  FESTUS. 

I  weary  of  this  world ;  and  like  the  dove, 

Urged  o'er  life's  barren  flood,  sweep,  tired,  back 

To  Thee  who  sent'st  me  forth.     Bear  with  me,  God! 

I  am  not  worthy  of  Thy  wrath,  nor  love  !  — 

Oh  !   that  the  things  which  have  been  were  not  now 

In  memory's  resurrection !     But  the  past 

Bears  in  her  arms  the  present  and  the  future: 

And  what  can  perish  while  perdition  is] 

From  the  hot,  angry,  crowding  courts  of  doubt 

Within  the  breast,  it  is  sweet  to  escape,  and  soothe 

The  soul  in  looking  upon  natural  beauty. 

Oh !  earth,  like  man  her  son,  is  half  divine. 

There  is  not  a  leaf  within  this  quiet  spot 

But  which  I  seem  to  know ;    should  miss,  if  gone. 

I  could  run  over  its  features,  hour  by  hour. 

The  quaintly  figured  beds  —  the  various  flowers  — 

The  mazy  paths  all  cunningly  converged  — 

The  black  yew  hedge,  like  a  beleaguering  host. 

Round  some  fair  garden  province  —  here  and  there, 

The  cloud-like  laurel  clumps  sleep,  soft  and  fast. 

Pillowed  by  their  own  shadows  —  and  beyond. 

The  ripe  and  ruddy  fruitage  —  the  sharp  firs' 

Fringe,  like  an  eyelash,  on  the  faint-blue  west  — 

The  white  owl,  wheeling  from  the  gray  old  church, — 

Its  age-peeled  pinnacles,  and  tufted  top  — 

The    oaks,    which    spread    their    broad    arms    in    the 

blast, 
And    bid    stoims    come,    and    welcome ;    there    they 

stand, 


PESTus.  565 

To  whom  a  summer  passes  like  a  smile:  — 

And    the    proud   peacock    towers   himself  there,    and 

screams, 
Huffing  the  imperial  purples  of  his  neck. 
O'er  all,  the  giant  poplars,  which  maintain 
Equality  with  clouds  half  way  up  Heaven ; 
Which  whisper  with  the  winds  none  else  can  see. 
And  bow  to  angels  as  they  wing  by  them ;  — 
The  lonely,  bowery,  woodland  view  before  — 
And,  making  all  more  beautiful,  thou,  sweet  moon, 
Leading  slow  pomp,  as  triumphing  o'er  Heaven ! 
High  riding  in  thy  loveless,  deathless  brightness. 
And  in  thy  cold,  unconquerable  beauty, 
As  though  there  were  nothing  worthy  in  the  world 
Even  to  lie  below  thee,  face  to  God. 
And  Night,  in  her  own  name,  and  God's,  again 
Hath  dipped  the  earth  in  dew ;  —  and  there  she  lies, 
Even  like  a  heart  all  trembling  with  delight, 
Till  passion  murder  power  to  speak  —  so  mute. 
Young  maiden  moon  !  just  looming  into  light  — 
I  would  that  aspect  never  might  be  changed  ; 
Nor  that  fine  form,  so  spirit-like,  be  spoiled 
With  fuller  light.     Oh !  keep  that  brilliant  shape ; 
Keep  the  delicious  honor  of  thy  youth. 
Sweet  sister  of  the  sun,  more  beauteous  thou 
Than  he  sublime.     Shine  on,  nor  dread  decay; 
It  may  take  meaner  things :  but  thy  bright  look, 
Smiling  away  an  immortality. 
Assures  it  us  —  nay,  it  seems,  half,  to  give. 


566  FESTUS. 

Earth  may  decease.     God  will  not  part  with  thee, 
Fair  ark  of  light,  and  every  blessedness  ! 
Yes,  earth,  this  earth,  may  foul  the  face  of  life. 
Like  some  swart  mole  on  beauty's  breast  —  or  dead, 
Stiff,  mangled  reptile  some  clear  well  —  while  thou 
Shalt  shine,  aye  brilliant,  on  creation's  corse, 
Like  to  a  diamond  on  a  dead  man's  hand ; 
Whence  God  shall  pluck  thee  to  His  breast,  or  bid 
Beam   mid   His   lightning   locks.      What   are   earth's 

joys 

To  watching  thee,  tending  thy  bright  flock  over 

The  fields  of  Heaven  ?     Thy  light  misleadeth  not, 

Though  eyes  which  image  Heaven  oft  lure  to  Hell: — 

Thy  smile  betrayeth  not  —  though  sweet  as  that 

Which  wins  and  damns.     Mother,  and  maid  of  light! 

That,  like  a  God,  redeems  the  world  to  Heaven  — 

Making  us  one  with  thee,  and  with  the  sun. 

And  with  the  stars  in  glory  —  lovely  moon  ! 

I  am  immortal  as  thyself;   and  we 

Shall  look  upon  each  other  yet,  in  Heaven, 

Often  —  but  never,  nevermore  on  earth. 

Am  I  to  die  so  soon  ]     This  death  !  —  the  thought 

Comes  on  my  heart  as  through  a  burning  glass. 

I  cannot  bend  mine  eyes  to  earth,  but  thence 

It  riseth,  spectre-like,  to  mock  —  nor  towards 

The  west,  where  sunset  is,  whose  long  bright  pomp 

Makes    men    in    love    with    change  —  but    there    it 

lowers 
Eve's  last,  still  lingering,  darkening  cloud ;   and  on 


FESTUS.  567 

The    escutcheon    of   the    morn,    it    is    there  —  it   is 

there  ! 
But  fears  will  come  upon  the  bravest  mind, 
Like  the  white  moon  upon  the  crimson  west. 
I  have  attractions  for  all  miseries ; 
And  every  course  of  thought  within  my  heart 
Leaves  a  new  layer  of  woe.     But  it  must  end. 
It  will  all  he  one,  hereafter.     Let  it  be; 
My  bosom,  like   the   grave,  holds   all   quenched  pas- 
sions. 
It  is  not  that  I  have  not  found  what  I  sought  — 
But,  that  the  world  —  tush !  I  shall  see  it  die. 
I  hate,  and  shall  outlive,  the  hypocrite. 
Stealthily,  slowly,  like  the  polar  sun. 
Who  peeps  by  fits  above  the  air- walled  world, — 
The  heavenly  fief  he  knows  and  feels  his  own, — 
My  heart  o'erlooks  the  paradise  of  life 
Which  it  hath  lost,  in  cold,  reluctant  joy. 
I  live  and  see  all  beauteous  things  about  me. 
But  feel  no  nature  prompting  from  within 
To  meet  and  profit  by  them.     I  am  like 
That  fabled  forest  of  the  Apennine 
Which    leafless    lives  ;    whereto    the    spring's    bright 

showers. 
Summer's  heat  breathless,  autumn's  fruitful  juice. 
Nothing  avail  —  nor  winter's  killing  cold. 
Yet  have  I  done,  said,  thought,  in  time  now  past, 
What,  rather  than  remember,  I  would  die. 
Or  do  again.     It  is  the  thinking  on't, 


568  FESTUS. 

And  tlie  repentance,  maddens.     I  have  thought 

Upon  such  thmgs  so  long  and  grievously, 

My  lips  have  grown,  like  to  a  cliff-chafed  sea, 

Pale  with  a  tidal  passion;   and  my  soul. 

Once  high  and  bright,  and  self-sustained  as  Heaven, 

Unsettled  now  for  life  or  death,  feels  like 

The  gray  gull  balanced  on  her  bow-like  wings, 

Between  two  black  waves,  seeking  where  to  dive. 

Long  we  live  thinking  nothing  of  our  fate. 

For  in  the  morn  of  life  we  mark  it  not  — 

It  falls  behind :   but  as  our  day  goes  down, 

We  catch  it  lengthening  with  a  giant's  stride. 

And  ushering  us  unto  the  feet  of  night. 

Dark  thoughts,  like  spots  upon  the  sun,  revolve 

In  troops  for  days  together  round  my  soul, 

Disfiguring  and  dimming.     Death !    O  Death ! 

The  past,  the  present,  and  the  future,  like 

The  dog  three-headed,  by  the  gates  of  woe 

Sitting,  seem  ready  to  devour  me  each. 

I  dare  not  look  on  them.     I  dare  not  think. 

The  very  best  deeds  I  have  ever  done 

Seem  worthy  reprobation ;  have  to  be 

Repented  of     But  have  I  done  aught  good? 

Oh  that  my  soul  were  calmer!     Grant  me,  God! 

Thy  peace ;   that  added,  I  can  smile  and  die. 

Thy  Spirit  only  is  reality: 

All  things  beside  are  folly,  falsehood,  shame. 


FESTUS.  569 


Scene  —  Coloimade  and  Lawn. 
Festus  and  Clara. 

Clara.     At  thy  desire  I  come,  though  hard  to  me. 
We  have  lived  separate  lives,  unlike,  unsought 
Each  by  the  other.     Wherefore  meet  v^e  now  1 
Time  was  it  was  not  thus.     But  others  came 
Whose  tyrant  beauty  and  more  soaring  souls 
Thee  dazzled,  me  eclipsed.     Already  years 
Have  passed  since  first  we  were  what  now  we  are, 
Strangers. 

Festus.     Nay,  by  the  sun!  I  swear  it  —  never  so; 
However  distant.     Oftentimes  it  is 
The  irresistible  weakness  of  ourselves 
Which  overcometh  more  than  others'  strength. 
Oft  hath  this  heart,  allured  by  glittering  rites, 
And  sacred  titles,  and  celestial  names, 
Offered  at  others'  altars,  and  decreed 
Wildly,  profanely,  negligence  of  thine ;  — ■ 
True,  I  have  worshipped  idols,  and  forsworn 
The  loving  faith  I  owed  to  thee  alone ;  — 
Canst  thou  forgive'?   reconsecrate  the  heart, 
Rededicate  the  temple  ]     Do  not  all 
Beliefs,  how  far  soever  from  God's  truth, 
Circle  around  the  same,  in  mode  prescribed, 
As  round  Heaven's  secret  and  all-central  sun 
The  constellated  skies  %     And  shall  then  love 

72  vv* 


570  FESTUS. 

Lack  like  justification,  or  in  vain 

Plead  the  necessity  of  liberty  1  — 

For  truly  I  was  destined  to  this  end, 

And  in  myself  believed  the  most  at  first. 

Faith  first  and  last,  immortal  love  and  hope, 

Which  in  the  breast  dies  of  reality, 

Be  each  the  gracious  tenant  of  this  heart. 

The  love  which  with  the  spiritual  starts, 

Weakening    and    darkening,  strained   through   gloom 

and  gleam. 
Sets  oft  enough  in  sense,  but  ever  ends 
In  its  original  heavenly  purity. 
And  mortal  knowledge,  which  is  error,  dies ; 
And  spiritual  truth  alone  outlasts 
All  nature;   love  insensibly  with  Heaven 
Here  blending,  thither  wending,  thence  derived. 
Who  knows  himself  in  spirit,  all  things  knows, 
Above,  beneath,  around,  within  himself; 
The  orb  of  life  owned  space,  from  pole  to  pole 
The  horizon  of  existence.     Yea,  so  far 
As  nature  means,  the  atom  and  the  all 
Commune  and  know  each  other,  as  the  slant 
Invisible  axis  of  the  earth,  too  fine 
For  fairy  to  find  footing  tiptoe,  bears 
All  superincumbent  continents  and  seas. 
Mountains  and  air-realms.     Said  I  not  my  soul 
Had  taken  up  its  freedom,  and  assumed 
The  birthright  of  creation  1 

Clara.  Truly  so. 


FESTUS.  571 

Festus.     And,  holding  in  itself  the  omnitude 
Of  being,  God-endowed,  it  doth  become 
World-representative  1 

Clara.  "Well,  be  it  thus. 

Festus.     Thus   versant  with   an   absolute    life,  the 
spirit 
Makes  towards  its  end  and  great  reward,  in  peace, 
O'erpassing  all  earth's  lesser  joys. 

Clara.  Say  on ! 

I  would  not  have  thy  soul  abase  itself 
By  one  thought  about  me. 

Festus.  Nay,  speak  not  so. 

But  love's  career  is  over  in  my  heart. 
A  vaster  sphere  expands  before  me.     Power 
And  knowledge  I  can  give  thee  for  thy  love, 
But  scarce  repay  in  kind. 

Clara.  I  hear  thy  words. 

The  fragrance  of  the  flower  of  life  is  fled ;  — 
Still  let  it  linger  where  thou  laidst  it  —  here ! 

Festus.     It  is  I  who  sufler.     Sufler  therefore  me 
While  I  am  with  thee.     The  sole  love,  I  feel 
That  might  have  blessed  me  —  but  why  now  ]   what 

eye 
Can  see  the  circuit  of  an  orb  at  once*? 
The  orb  of  life,  alas !  is  on  the  wane. 
And  much  must  yet  be  said,  much  yet  be  done. 
I  cannot  tell  thee  all  I  know,  nor  dare ; 
For  wisdom  seals  the  lips  which  wonder  opes. 
The  dread  initiation  into  light 


572  FESTUS. 

Saddens  the  soul  it  hallows  and  expands. 

But  thou,  because  thou  knowest  much  of  truth  — 

Clara.     What  is  it  thou  wilt  tell  me] 

Festus.  I  have  seen 

What  ne'er   again    may  be,  nor   e'er    till  now   hath 
been. 

Clara.     Where  didst  thou  see  —  and  what? 

Festus.  In  space.     He  took  me  there, 

Of  whom  I  oft  have  told  thee.     Midst  in  air 
Was  God.     Ill  tell  thee  that  He  told  the  spheres ; 
For  the  great  family  of  the  universe 
Round  Him  were  gathered  as  a  fire:  but  we 
Held  back ;  and,  saving  God,  none  did  us  see ; 
Though  round  His  throne  in  sunny  halo  rolls 
A  ceaseless,  countless  throng  of  sainted  souls. 

Clara.     Say  on,  love !     Let  me  hear. 

Festus.  A  sound,  then,  first 

I  heard,  as  of  a  pent-up  flood  just  burst: 
It  was  the  rush  of  God's  world-winnowing  wing, 
Which    bowed    the    orbs    as    flowers    are    bowed    by 

breath  of  spring. 
And  then  a  voice  I  heard,  a  voice  sublime  — 
To  which  the  hoarded  thunders  of  all  time. 
Pealing  earth's  death-knell,  shall  a  whisper  be  — 
Saying  these  words :     Where  will  ye  worship  me  1 
Ay,  where  shall  be  your  Maker's  holy  place'? 
The  Heaven  of  Heavens  is  poor  before  His  face. 
How  shall  ye  mete  my  temple,  ye  who  die? 
Look!  can  ye  span  your  God's  infinity? 


FESTUS.  573 

Hear,  mighty  universe,  thy  Maker's  voice ! 
Let  all  thy  myriad,  myriad  worlds  rejoice! 
Lo  !  I,  your  Maker,  do  amid  ye  come, 
To  choose  my  worship,  and  to  name  my  home. 
This  heard  each  sphere ;   and  all  throughout  the  sky 
Came  crowding  round.     Our  earth  was  rolling  by. 
When  God  said  to  it  —  Rest!     And  fast  it  stood. 
With    voice    like    winds    through    some    wild,    olden 

wood, 
Thus  spake  the  One  again :   Behold,  O  Earth ! 
Thy  parent,  God !  it  is  I  who  gave  thee  birth. 
With  all  my  love  I  did  thee  once  endow  ; 
With  all  my  mercy  —  and  thou  hast  them  now. 
But  hear  my  words !  thou  never  lovedst  me  well, 
Nor  fearedst  my  wrath:  dreadst  thou  no  longer  HelH 
Dream'st    thou    that    guilt    shall    alway    mock   those 

fires  ] 
That  deathless  death  which  Hell  for  aye  expires'? 
Should  all  creation  its  rebellion  raise, 
I  speak,  and  this  broad  universe  doth  blaze  — 
Pass  like  a  dew-drop  'neath  mine  angry  rays  — 
Blaze  like  the  fat  in  sacrificial  flame : 
And  that  burnt-offering,  when  I  come  to  claim. 
Its  scorching,  quenchless  mass,  all,  I  will  pour 
Upon  thy  naked  soul :  —  canst  thou  endure 
He  spake ;  and,  as  the  fear-fraught  words  flew  past. 
Earth  fluttered  like  a  dead  leaf  in  their  blast. 
Am  not  I  God  1     Answer  me !     Hope  not  thou. 
Impenitent,  to  ward  my  righteous  blow. 


574  FESTUS. 

Yet,  come  again !  my  proffered  mercy  hear ! 
Rejoice  and  sing !  sweet  music  in  thine  ear, 
And  peace,  I  speak:   seek  but  to  be  forgiven: 
Repent!   and  thou  shalt  meet  thy  God  in  Heaven. 
Go !    cleanse   thy   brow   from   blood,  thy   heart   from 

crime. 
And  on  thy  Savior  call  while  yet  is  time! 
Now  to  this  universe  of  pride  and  sin 
I  speak,  ere  yet  I  call  mine  angels  in. 
Draw    nigh,    ye    worlds  I  —  and   lo !    their    light    did 

seem 
Before  His  eye  paled  to  a  pearl's  dull  beam. 
Attend!  said  God  —  o'er  all  He  lifts  His  hand. — 
Where  will  ye  set  my  tent  ]   where  shall  my  temple 

stand  ? 
A.nd  all  were  dumb.     Distracting  silence  spread 
Throughout  that  host  as  each  were  stricken  dead. 
I  made  ye.     I  endowed  ye.     Ye  are  mine. 
Then    trembled   out   each   orb :   Thine,   God !   forever 

Thine ! 
All  that  ye  have,  within  myself  have  I; 
God,  am  complete;  full  inexhaustibly. 
I  dwell  within  myself,  and  ye  in  me. 
Not  in  yourselves;  I  have  infinity. 
The  every  thing  in  all  things  is  my  throne; 
Your   might   is    my   might,    and   your    wealth    mine 

own : 
Tis  by  my  power  and  sufferance  that  ye  shine; 
I  live  in  light,  and  all  your  light  is  mine. 


FESTUS.  575 

Be  dark !  said  God.     Night  was.     Each  glowing  sphere 

Dulled.     Night  seemed  every  thing  and  every  where, 

Save  that  in  utter  space  a  feeble  flare 

Told  that  the  pits  of  Hell  were  sunken  there. 

Shuddered  in  fear  the  universe  the  while, 

Till  God  again  embraced  it  with  a  smile. 

Divine  delight  responsive  spread  through  space ; 

Till,  like  a  serious  smile,  whose  gradual  grace 

Expands  its  soul-born  sunshine  o'er  the  face, 

Lo  I  all  things  made  were  glad.     Come  now  and  hear, 

Ye  worlds  !   said  God,  the  truth  I  thus  make  clear : 

My  words  are  mercy,  wherefore  should  ye  fear  ] 

And  straight,  obedient  to  his  sacred  will, 

One  great  concentrate  globe  they  crowd  to  fill; 

Systems  and  suns  pour  forth  their  glowing  urns  ; 

Full  in  the  face  of  God  the  glory  burns. 

Hearken,  thou  host !  thy  trembling  hope  to  raise, 

I  to  all  being  thus  make  plain  my  ways  :  — 

God,  the  Creator,  bade  creation  rise. 

And  matter  came  in  void  like  clouds  in  skies ; 

Lifeless  and  cold  it  spread  throughout  all  space. 

And  darkness  dwelt  and  frowned  upon  its  face: 

Chaos  I  bade  depart  this  work  of  mine, 

And  straight  the  mighty  elements  disjoin. 

Then  light  I  lit;   then  order  I  ordained. 

And  put  the  dance  of  atoms  to  an  end. 

Matter  I  brake,  and  scattered  into  globes. 

And  clad  ye  each  in  green  and  growing  robes: 


576  FESTUS. 

Your  sizes,  places,  forms,  I  fixed  with  laws. 

And  wrought  the  link  between  effect  and  cause. 

Then  formed  I  lives  for  each,  which  might  inherit 

Will,  reason,  form,  and  power  —  not  deathless  spirit. 

Then  I  made  spirits,  thivgs  of  heavenly  worth. 

Deathless,  divine.     Round  these,  from  every  earth, 

I  gathered  forms  and  features  fit  for  love. 

Trust,  pleasure,  power,  and  all  I  could  approve. 

One  universal  nature  spread  through  space, 

Free,  faulty,  human,  born  for  better  place. 

To  every  spirit  I  disclosed  my  name. 

My  love,  my  might,  and  whence  all  being  came: 

To  deathless  souls  I  righteously  decreed 

Accountability  for  thought,  word,  deed. 

Then  every  orb  complete,  along  the  sky. 

In  glory,  beauty,  order,  harmony, 

I  launched.     Souls,  worlds,  did  every  thing  possess 

Which  could  a  mortal  and  immortal  bless. 

To  all  the  hope  of  happier  state  was  given  — 

For  all  I  keep  one  common,  boundless  Heaven. 

Ye  all  have  freedom,  and  ye  all  do  sin, 

For  ye  are  creatures:  but  ye  all  may  win 

Life  everlasting  —  everlasting  joy. 

If  ye  do  but  the  love  of  sin  destroy: 

This  only  is  offence;  for  sin  ye  must 

Not  by  my  will;   but  weakness  dwells  with  dust. 

Unless  ye  have  sinned,  ye  cannot  enter  Heaven. 

How  shall  a  sinless  creature  be  forgiven  1 


FESTUS.  577 

And  by  forgiveness  only  can  ye  claim 

Hope  in  my  mercy,  trust  upon  my  name. 

I  knew  that  ye  would  all  to  sin  be  given ; 

But  I,  even  God,  have  paid  your  price  to  Heaven  : 

And  if  ye  will  not  journey  on  that  way  — 

The  truth  —  the  life  —  what  do  ye  merit  ]  say  ! 

Death  is  the  gate  of  life ;  and  sin,  of  bliss : 

Mark    the    dread    truth  !    but     mourn     your     deeds 

amiss. 
Cast  off  your  guilt !  abandon  folly's  path  ! 
Turn  to  the  Lord  your  God  ere  hell  His  wrath ! 
Turn  from  your  madness,  wicked  ones,  and  live ! 
Take,  take  the  bliss  which  God  alone  can  give. 
God,  the  Creator,  me  all  beings  own  — 
God,  the  Redeemer,  I  will  still  be  known  — 
God,   too,   the   Judge  —  the   each  —  the   three  —  the 

one. 
Again  the  Everlasting  cried  —  Eepent! 
To  bless  or  curse  I  am  Omnipotent. 
And  what  art  thou,  created  being  1     Round 
That     world     of    worlds    His     arm     the    Almighty 

wound  ; 
The  bright  immensity  He  raised,  and  pressed, 
All  trembling  like  a  babe,  unto  His  breast. 
There,  in  the  Father's  bosom,  rose  again, 
Of  filial  love,  the  universal  strain ; 
Strong  and  exultant  —  blissful,  pure,  sublime. 
It  rolled,  and  thrilled,  and  swelled  in  notes  unkiiovvn 

to  time. 

73  WW 


578  FESTUS. 

Think  ye  that  I,  who  thus  do  ye  maintain ; 

Thus  alway  cherish  ye,  or  all  were  vain  — 

Ye  all  would  drop  into  your  native  void, 

If  by  my  hand  ye  were  not  held  and  buoyed: 

Think  ye  that  I  cannot  uphold  in  Heaven, 

In  righteous  state,  the  souls  I  have  forgiven? 

Be  this  a  weightier  task?  with  God,  'tis  one 

To  guide  a  sunbeam  or  create  a  sun  — 

To  rule  ten  thousand  thousand  worlds,  or  none. 

Go,  worlds  !  said  God,  but  learn,  ere  ye  depart, 

My  favored  temple  is  a  humble  heart ; 

Therein  to  dwell  I  leave  my  loftiest  skies  — 

There  shall  my  holy  of  all  holies  rise ! 

He  spake ;  and  swiftly  reverent  to  His  will, 

Sprang  each  bright  orb  on  high,  its  sphere  to  fill. 

Glory  to  God !  they  chanted  as  they  soared  — 

Father  Almighty!   be  Thou  all-adored. 

Thou  art  the  glory  —  we.  Thine  universe, 

Serve  but  abroad  Thy  lustre  to  disperse. 

Unsearchable,  and  yet  to  all  made  known ! 

The  world  at  once  Thy  kingdom  and  Thy  throne 

Pity  us,  God !  nor  chase  us  quite  away 

Before  Thy  wrath,  as  night  before  the  day. 

In  Thee,  our  God,  we  live;  from  Thee  we  came — 

The  feeble  sparks  of  Thine  eternal  flame. 

Thy  breath  from  nothing  filled  us  all  at  first, 

And  could  again  as  soon  the  bubble  burst. 

In  Thee,  like  motes  in  the  sunbeam,  we  move ; 

Glow  in  Thy  light,  and  gladden  in  Thy  love. 


FESTUS.  579 

And  midst  this  praise,  earth  was  the  only  one 
Sullen  remained  in  that  grand  union 
Of  joy  and  harmony.     Word  spake  she  none. 
Clara.     Earth  only  had  been  chidden. 
Festus.  Not  alone. 

High  o'er  all  height,  God  gat  upon  His  throne. 
Downwards  He  bent;  and,  as  a  grain  of  sand. 
He  lifced  up  our  globe.     Then  from  His  hand. 
As  'twere  in  pity,  bowled  the  ingrate  sphere, 
Which  rushed  like  ruin  down  its  dark  career. 
And  high  the  air's  blue  billows  rolled  and  swelled 
On  many  an  island  world  mine  eye  beheld. 

Clara.     And  where   and   what   is   he,  this  mighty 

friend, 
Who  to  thee,  human,  thus  his  might  doth  lend] 
Who    bore    thee    harmless,    as    thou    sayst,    through 

space. 
And  brought  thee  front  before  thy  Maker's  face? 
Festus.     I   know   not   where   he  is.     It  is  but  at 

times 
That  he  is  with  me;  but  he  aye  sublimes 
His  visits  thus,  by  lending  me  his  might 
O'er   things   more   bright   than  day,  more   deep   than 

night. 
And  he  obeys  me  —  whether  good  or  ill 
His  or  my  object,  he  obeys  me  still. 

Clara.     O  Festus !    I  conjure  thee  to  beware, 
Lest  thus  the  Evil  One  thy  soul  insnare. 


580  FESTUS. 

Festus.     What!  may  not   a   free    spirit   have   pre- 
ferred 
A  mortal  to  his  heart  —  as  thou  thy  bird 
Lovest,  because  it  singeth  of  the  sky, 
Although  it  is  as  far  below  thy  soul 
As  I  'neath  an  archangel's  majesty  ? 
God  will  protect  the  atom  as  the  whole. 

Clara.     Him,  then,  I  pray:    the    spirit    full  must 
share 
The  truths  it  feels  with  God  Himself  in  prayer. 
So -guide  us,  God!  in  all  our  w^orks  and  ways, 
That    heart   may  feel,   hand    act,    mouth    show   Thy 

praise  ; 
That  when  they  meet,  who  love,  and  when  they  part, 
Each  may  be  high  in  hope,  and  pure  in  heart: 
That   they  who  have  seen,  and    they  who    have   but 

heard 
Of  Thy  great  deeds,  may  both  obey  Thy  word ! 

Festus.     Unto  the  wise  belongs  the  sphere  of  light, 
And  to  the  spirit  world-compelling  might. 
Yon  sun,  now  setting  in  the  golden  main, 
Shall  count  me  his  ere  next  he  rise  again. 
One  farewell  round  I  long  to  make  above. 
As  now  with  thee  this  leave-taking  of  love. 
Once  more  to  circle  round  the  central  skies. 
And  sound  the  silent  infinite,  where  rise 
Creation's  outflows,  and  the  new-born  light 
Smiles  babe-like  on  the  lap  of  ancient  nursing  night. 


FESTUS.  581 

Would  that  the  earth  had  nothing  fair  tci  lure, 
Nor  being  more  to  answer  or  endure! 
But  I  foresee,  fore-suffer.     Bound  to  earth. 
Wrecked  in  the  deeps  of  Heaven,  in  Death's  expiring 
birth ! 

Clara.     Is  all,  then,  over]     I  ask  not  what  hath 
come 
Of  those  who  once  were  thine ;  but  fear,  nor  speak. 
Fate  brooks  not  to  be  questioned  in  the  light. 
But  shall  we  part]     Is  this  ordained,  or  not] 
Or  is  the  earth-star  struggling  still  with  death  ] 

Festus.     Being  of  beauty !  whose  yet  unfilled  arms 
Form  an  incarnate  Eden,  and  whose  eyes 
The  angel  watchers  o'er  it  —  mine  exiled 
And  gazing  on  thee  gainless  —  smile  no  more. 
For  if  life's  feelings  flow  not  now  as  erst. 
It  is  not  that  they  are  vanished  like  a  stream 
Sun-dwindled  or  earth-drained,  but  that  their  face 
Is  frozen  'neath  the  world's  wide  winter.     No  ! 
The  liquid  lightning  of  thine  eye  no  more, 
Nor  flowery  light  which  blooms  upon  thy  cheek, 
Nor  delicate  perfection  of  pure  form  — 
A  breathing  revelation  incarnate  — 
Illumes  for  me  the  dusk  of  life.     Night  reigns. 
My  heart's  poles  now  are  fixed  like  earth's  in  Heaven, 
Shining  in  solid  silence  to  the  moon 
Starry  and  icy  silence ;  and  all  ceased 
Their  torrid  oscillancies.     Once  it  rolled 
In  tropic  splendor.     Now  experience  treads 


582  FESTUS. 

Deep  in  the  snow  of  blossoms.     Maid  of  love ! 

Were  thy  heart  now  free  as  a  zoneless  nymph, 

And  on  life's  race  of  rapture  mad  to  start 

Like  her  of  old,  ere  dropped  the  golden  pome, 

'Twere  vain  to  me;  immovable  is  mine. 

Still  as  a  statue  studying  stony  tome. 

Unite  we  may  not.     In  this  fatal  life 

There  is  no  real  union.     All  things  here 

Seem  of  monadic  nature ;  and  with  God, 

All  oneness  and  sole  allness  lives  alone. 

Still  even  in  this  —  Time's  age  penultimate  — 

And  in  my  heart's  exhausted  mine,  I  feel  — 

But  I  forever  have  forsworn  it  —  both 

The  magic  might  of  beauty  and  the  fierce 

Deliciousness  of  love.     Yes  !  I  must  be 

Alone  in  sacrifice,  alone  in  soul. 

I  hold  Hfe's  feast,  death's  fast,  indifierent. 

There  is  divorce  between  my  heart  and  me  ; 

And  I  have  neither  bride  nor  brethren  —  I ; 

But  I  achieve  my  end  —  the  end  of  all. 

From  this  is  no  appeal  to  death,  nor  fate, 

Nor  the  just  Gods  ;  herein  are  all  at  one. 

Love  me  not  therefore,  now;  but  when  with  me 

The  great  cessation  happens,  when  the  poles 

Are  icing,  and  this  tyrant  of  life's  realm 

Totters  to  execution  and  well-earned 

Ruin  —  attend  me ;  whether  in  the  flesh 

Or  in  the  spirit,  be  with  me;  and  mark. 

One  birdlike  thought  through  death's  white  void  shall 

fly 


FESTUS.  5*<3 

Right  to  thy  bosom  home,  the  thought  of  thee. 

Cherish  it  there  as  mine,  and  royally 

In  its  snow  palace.     It  will  bear  the  gaze 

Of  all  the  star  souls  and  the  spirit  stars 

Which  will  the  living  land  of  light  indwell. 

I  feel  earth  slacken  in  rotation.     Time 

Lays  down  his  weary  length,  as  though  the  work 

"Wherefore  he  had  his  hire  were  finished.     Go ! 

Now  there  is  nothing  left  for  us  on  earth, 

Save  separation. 

Clara.  Still  I  love  thee,  still. 

But  this  is  not  the  end. 

Festus.  Go!     I  have  said  it; 

I  am  henceforth  alone.     My  thought  of  thee 
Above  all  passionate  fire-peaks  and  above 
The  sacred  snowline  of  my  heart,  where  soul 
And  spirit  in-  ecstatic  stillness  join. 
Bides  in  perpetual  purity.     Farewell! 


Scene — Elsewhere. 

Festus,  alone.     I  feel  as  if  I  could  devour  the  days 
Till  the  time  came  when  I  shall  gain  mine  end ; 
God  shall  have  made  me  ruler,  and  all  worlds 
Signed  the  sublime  recognizance.     Till  then,-r- 
Even  as  a  boat  lies  rocking  on  the  beach. 
Waiting  the  one  white  wave  to  float  it  free, — 
Wait  I  the  great  event ;  —  too  great  it  seems 


584  FESTUS. 

Yet,  Lord!  Thou  knowest  that  the  power  I  seek 

Is  but  for  other?'  good  and  Thine  own  glory, 

And  the  desire  for  it  inspired  by  Thee. 

So  use  me  as  I  use  it.     Thou  hast  passed 

Thy  word  that  such  I  shall  enjoy,  and  then 

My  mission  is  accomplished  in  this  world. 

I  go  unto  another,  where  all  souls 

Begin  again,  or  take  up  life  from  where 

Death  broke  it  at.     I  cannot  think  there  will  be 

Like  disproportion  there  between  our  powers 

And  will,  as  here:  if  not,  I  shall  be  happy. 

I  feel  no  bounds.     I  cannot  think,  but  thought 

On  thought  springs  up,  illimitably,  round. 

As  a  great  forest  sows  itself;  but  here 

There  is  nor  ground  nor  light  enough  to  live. 

Could  I,  I  would  be  every  where  at  once. 

Like  the  sea,  for  I  feel  as  if  I  could 

Spread  out  my  spirit  o'er  the  endless  world, 

And  act  at  all  points :  —  I  am  bound  to  one. 

I  must  be  here,  and  there,  and  every  where. 

Or  I  am  nowhere.     Sense,  flesh,  feeling,  fail 

Before  the  feet  of  the  imperious  mind, 

To  which  they  are  but  as  the  dust  she  treads, — 

Windlike  treads  o'er,  uplifts  and  leaves  behind. 

How  mind  will  act  with  body  glorified 

And  spiritualized,  and  senses  fined. 

And  pointed  brilliant-wise,  we  know  not.     Here, 

Even,  it  may  be  wrong  in  us  to  deem 

The  senses  degradations,  otherwise 


FESTUS.  585 

Than  as  fine  steps,  whereby  the  queenly  soul 

Comes  down  from  her  bright  throne  to  view  the  mass 

She  hath  dominion  over,  and  the  things 

Of  her  inheritance ;  and  reascends, 

With  an  indignant  fiery  purity, 

Not  to  be  touched,  her  seat.     The  visible  world, 

Whereby  God  maketh  Nature  known  to  us, 

Is  not  derogatory  to  Himself 

As  the  pure  Spirit  Infinite.     A  world 

Is  but,  perhaps,  a  sense  of  God's,  by  which 

He  may  explain  His  nature,  and  receive 

Fit  pleasure.     But  the  hour  is  hard  at  hand, 

When  Time's  gray  wing  shall  winnow  all  away. 

The  atoms  of  the  earth,  the  stars  of  Heaven ; 

When  the  created  and  Creator  mind 

Shall  know  each  other,  worlds  and  bodies  both 

Put  off  for  aye ;  man  and  his  Maker  meet 

Where  all,  who  through  the  universe  do  well. 

Embrace  their  heart's  desire ;  what  things  they  will 

And  whom  remember ;  live,  too,  where  they  list ; 

And  with  the  beings  they  love  best,  and  God, 

Inherit  and  inhabit  boundless  bliss. 

Hear  me,  all-favoring  God !  my  latest  prayer ; 

Thou,  unto  whom  all  nations  of  the  world 

Lift  up  their  hearts,  like  grass-blades  to  the  sun; 

Thou  who  hast  all  things,  and  hast  need  of  nought ; 

Thou  who  hast  given  me  earth  and  all  it  holds. 

Give  me,  from  out  Thy  garner  stored  with  good. 

Some  sign,  Lord !  while  I  live,  in  proof  to  earth 

74 


586  FESTUS. 

My  prayers  are  with  Thee ;  that  they  rend  the  clouds, 

And,  rising  through  the  sightless  dark  of  space, 

Eeach  to  Thy  central  throne.     Oh !  let  ine  feel  — 

What  was  my  constant  dream  in  my  young  years. 

And  is  in  all  my  better  moments  now  — 

My  hope,  my  faith,  my  nature's  sum  and  end, 

Oneness  with  Thee  and  Heaven.     Lord !  make  me  sure 

My  soul  already  is  in  unison 

With  the  triumphant.     Ah !  I  surely  hear 

The  voices  of  the  spirits  of  the  saints, 

And  witnesses  to  the  E^deeming  Truth ; 

Not,  as  of  old,  in  scanty  scattered  strains. 

Breathed  from  the  caves  of  earth  and  cells  of  cities, — 

Nor  as  the  voice  of  martyr  choked  with  fire, — 

But  in  one  solemn  Heaven-pervading  hymn 

Of  happiness  impregnable,  as  when 

From  the  bright  walls  of  the  Son's  city  they 

Looked  on  the  war  of  hell,  host  upon  host. 

Foiled  by  God's  single  sword  before  their  gates 

Of  perfect  pearl ;  —  nearer  and  nearer  now  ! 

This  is  the  sign,  O  God !  which  Thou  hast  given, 

And  I  will  praise  Thee  through  eternity. 

The  Saints  frmn,  Heaven. 

Call  all  who  love  Thee,  Lord!    to  Thee; 

Thou  knowest  how  they  long 
To  leave  these  broken  lays,  and  aid 

In  Heaven's  unceasing  song; 


FESTUS.  587 

How  they  long,  Lord!  to  go  to  Thee, 
And  hail  Thee  with  their  eyes, — 

Thee  in  Thy  blessedness,  and  all 
The  nations  of  the  skies. 

All  who  have  loved  Thee  and  done  well, 

Of  every  age,  creed,  clime, 
The  host  of  saved  ones  from  the  ends 

And  all  the  worlds  of  time: 
The  wise  in  matter  and  in  mind. 

The  soldier,  sage,  and  priest. 
King,  prophet,  hero,  saint,  and  bard. 

The  greatest  soul  and  least. 

The  old  and  young  and  very  babe. 

The  maiden  and  the  youth. 
All  re-born  angels  of  one  age  — 

The  age  of  Heaven  and  truth ; 
The  rich,  the  poor,  the  good;  the  bad, 

Redeemed  alike  from  sin ; 
Lord!  close  the  book  of  time,  and  let 

Eternity  begin. 

Festus.     Will  ye  away,  ye  blessed  ones  1     To  God 
I  then  commend  ye,  and  my  soul  with  yours. 
And  midst  the  light  in  which  ye  live.  Oh !  mind 
Of  all  the  sunless  days  and  starless  nights 
Which  myriads  pass  on  earth,  and  pray  for  them ! 
Oh !  pray  for  those  who  in  the  world's  dark  womb 


588  FESTUS. 

Are  bound,  who  know  not  yet  their  Father,  God !  — 

Lord  of  all  earth,  all  worlds,  all  Heaven  !  lift  up 

My  spirit  to  Thy  glory!     Let  me  share 

The  comfort  of  Thy  love,  and  while  ordained 

To  the  great  task  I  have  to  go  through,  let 

No  more  misgivings,  fears,  nor  mortal  doubts. 

With  the  cold  dew  of  darkness,  chill  the  soul 

Which  Thou  hast  hallowed  with  Thy  love,  and  which, 

Like  molten  gold  within  its  mould,  hath  made 

The  thing  that  holds  it  precious ;  —  or  if.  Lord  ! 

For  Thine  own  purpose  Thou  wilt  suffer  such, 

May  they  pass  quick  and  perish  tracelessly ; 

So,  too,  all  thoughts  of  earth  and  pangs  of  death 

May  I  o'ercome  at  last,  and  with  Thy  chosen. 

Seraphs  and  saints,  and  all-possessing  souls, 

Which  minister  unto  the  universe. 

Enthroned  in  spirit  and  intensest  bliss, 

Succeed  to  Heaven  forever. 

Guardian  Angel.  Mortal,  hear  ! 

The  soul  once  saved  shall  never  cease  from  bliss. 
Nor  God  lose  that  He  buyeth  with  His  blood. 
She  doth  not  sin.     The  deeds  which  look  like  sin, 
The  flesh  and  the  false  world,  are  all  to  her 
Hallowed  and  glorified.     The  world  is  changed. 
She  hath  a  resurrection  unto  God 
While  in  the  flesh,  before  the  final  one, 
And  is  with  God.     Her  state  shall  never  fail. 
Even  the  molten  granite  which  hath  split 
Mountains,  and  lieth  now  like  curdled  blood 


FESTUS.  589 

In  marble  veins,  shall  flow  again  when  comes 
The  heat  which  is  to  end  all ;  when  the  air 
Is  as  a  ravening  fire,  and  what  at  first 
Produced,  at  last  consumeth ;  but  the  soul 
Redeemed  is  dear  to  God  as  His  own  throne. 
And  shall  no  sooner  perish.     Hearken,  man ! 
Wilt  thou  distrust  God"?     Doubt  on  doubt  no  more. 
Prepare  thee  fov  the  power  and  lot  sublime 
Whereto  the  Lord  hath  called  thee.     He  hath  heard 
The  prayers  with  which  thou  hast  entreated  Him, 
And  bids  me  tell  thee,  shrink  not,  doubt  not.     He 
Will  comfort  and  uphold  thee  at  the  end  ; 
For  after  God  the  Chooser,  God  the  Slain, 
Cometh  the  God  of  Comfort  to  the  heart. 
Whose  action  and  efiect  is  ministrant 
Forever  after  —  consummating  all. 

Festus.     I  fear,  I  fear  this  miracle  of  Death 
Is  something  terrible.     But  go  to  God, 
Thou  angel,  and  declare  that  I  repent 
Of  all  misdeeds  ;  that  but  for  His  own  grace 
I  should  repent  of  my  whole  life ;  that  on 
That  grace,  which  now  hath  sanctified  the  whole, 
I  trust  for  all  the  rest  of  it,  and  then 
Forever;  that  I  am  prepared  to  act 
And  sufier  as  He  bids,  and  in  all  things 
To  do  His  will  rejoicing. 

Angel.  It  is  done. 

Festus.     Oh !  I  repent  me  of  a  thousand  sins, 


590  FESTUS. 

In  number  as  the  breaths  which  I  have  breathed. 
Am  I  forgiven  1 

Angel.  Child  of  God,  thou  art. 

It  is  God  prompts,  inspires,  and  answers  prayer; 
Not  sin,  nor  yet  repentance,  which  avails: 
And  none  can  truly  worship  but  who  have 
The  earnest  of  their  glory  from  on  high  — 
God's  nature  in  them.     The  world  cannot  worship. 
And  whether  the  lip  speak,  or  in  inspired 
Silence  we  clasp  our  hearts  as  a  shut  book 
Of  song  unsung,  the  silence  and  the  speech 
Is  each  His,  and,  as  coming  from  and  going 
To  Him,  is  worthy  of  Him  and  His  Love. 
Prayer  is  the  spirit  speaking  truth  to  Truth ; 
The  expiration  of  the  thing  inspired. 
Above  the  battling  rock-storm  of  this  world 
Lies  Heaven's  great  calm,  through  which,  as  through 

a  bell, 
Tolleth  the  tongue  of  God,  eternally 
Calling  to  worship.     Whoso  hears  that  tongue 
Worships.     The  Spirit  enters  with  the  sound. 
Preaching  the  one  and  universal  word, 
The  God-word,  which  is  spirit,  life,  and  light; 
The  written  word  to  one  race,  the  unwrit 
Revealment  to  the  thousand  peopled  world. 
The  ear  which  hears  is  preattuned  in  Heaven, 
The  eye  which  sees  prevision  hath  ere  birth. 
But  the  just  future  shall  to  many  give 


FESTUS.  591 

Gifts  which  the  partial  present  doles  to  few; 
To  all  the  glory  of  obeying  God. 
I  go.     Thy  God  is  with  thee.     We  shall  meet 
Again  in  Heaven,  no  more  to  part. 

Festus.  Thou  art  gone! 

'Tis  sweet  to  feel  we  are  encircled  here 
By  breath  of  angels  as  the  stars  by  Heaven ; 
And  the  soul's  own  relations,  all  divine. 
As  kind  as  even  those  of  blood ;  —  and  thus 
While  friends  and  kin,  like  Saturn's  double  rings, 
Cheer  us  along  our  orbit,  we  may  feel 
We  are  not  lone  in  life,  but  that  earth's  part 
Of    Heaven    and    all    things.      Praise    we,    therefore, 

God ! 
O  all  ye  angels,  pray  and  praise  with  us  !  — 


Scene  —  A  Gathering  of  Kings  and  Peoples, 

Festus,    throned.      Princes    and    Peoples !     Powers 
once,  of  earth ! 
It  suits  not  that  I  point  to  ye  the  path 
By  which  I  reached  this  sole  supreme  domain  — 
This  mountain  of  all  mortal  might.     Enough, 
That  I  am  monarch  of  the  world  —  the  world. 
Let  all  acknowledge  loyally  my  laws. 
And  love  me  as  I  them  love.     It  will  be  best. 
No  rise  against  me  can  stand.     I  rule  of  God ; 
And  am  God's  sceptre  here.     Think  not  the  world 


592  FESTUS. 

Is  greater  than  my  might  —  less  than  my  love  — 

Or  that  it  stretcheth  farther  than  mine  arm. 

Kings!  ye  are  Kings  no  longer.     Cast  your  crowns 

Here  —  for  my  footstool.     Every  power  is  mine. 

Nobles  !  be  first  in  honor.     Ye,  too,  lose 

Your  place,  in  place :  retrieve  yourselves  in  good. 

Peoples !  be  mighty  in  obedience. 

Let  each  one  labor  for  the  common  weal. 

Be  every  man  a  people  in  his  mind. 

Kings  —  nobles  —  nations !  love  me  and  obey. 

I  need  no  aid  —  no  arms.    Burn  books  —  break  swords ! 

The  world  shall  rest,  and  moss  itself  with  peace. 

Kings.     Tyrant,  we  love  thee  not ;  and  we  as  one 
Man  will  resist  thee. 

Festus.  Well  I  know  it.     Mark! 

Ye  are  all  nations,  I  a  single  soul. 
Yet  shall  this  new  world  order  outlast  all. 
Behold  in  me  the  doomsman  of  your  race. 
Will,  reason,  passions,  all  shall  serve  and  aid, 
Yea,  your  most  secret  qualities  and  powers. 

Nobles.     Reason  rebels  against  thee,  and  condemns 
Tyrant  and  slave  alike ;  exalting  this, 
Deposing  that,  adjusting  all ;  as  yet 
Hope  we  and  mean  to  do  with  thee  and  these. 

Festus.     And    seek   ye  to    gainstand    the   faith   in 
God] 
O  blindest  rulers !  will  ye  never  learn 
Your  proper  region  and  due  dominance? 
Whatever  ye  rule,  I  rule  over  you. 


FESTUS.  593 

All  unobstructed  power  is  sanctified. 

Divine  rule  is  a  tyranny  of  good. 

Mine  shall  be  like  it.     Tyrant !  well ;  I  am. 

T  glory  in  the  title ;  reverence 

Myself  for  that  it  is  accorded  me. 

What  is  above  this  soul  of  mine  but  Heaven  ] 

Peoples.     The  opposite  of  rule  divine  is  best 
For  man.     Power  gives  temptation,  which  in  turn 
Sets  aside  honor,  social  duty,  law. 
And  right;  creates  abuse,  and  abuse,  strife. 
Confusion,  retribution,  bloodshed,  sin. 
Though  for  a  season  cloud  and  meteor 
Usurp  the  heights  of  air,  yet  soon  the  stars 
Their  peaceful  reign  resume :  and  now  at  last, 
Since  earth  hath  wiser  waxed,  the  people  theirs. 
Therefore,  descend  thou  and  make  room  for  us ; 
Or  else  thy  powers  submit  to  perfect  proof, 
And  our  approval  ratified  by  all. 

Festus.     Man's  conscience  is  an  angel  or  a  fiend, 
According  to  his  deeds.     What  have  I  done  ? 
1  was  the  youngest  born  of  Destiny, 
The  favorite  of  Fate,  and  Fortune's  heir ; 
My  word  for  once  was  law  and  prophecy. 
Speak,  spirit !  have  I  forfeited  my  star  ? 

Lucifer.     Storms  give  to  dust  a  privilege  to  rise 
And  fly  in  all  men's  faces  —  even  kings' ! 

Festus.     What  if  a  million  molehills  were  to  league 
Their  meannesses  together  with  due  pomp, 
And  to  some  mountain  say.  In  the  name  of  God ! 

75  XX* 


594  FESTUS. 

Whither  dost  thou  aspire  1     Does  any  deem 
That  great  imperial  creature  would  descend 
From  those  sublimest  solitudes  of  Heaven, 
Where  it  had  dwelt  in  snowy  sanctity 
For  ages,  ere  the  mud-made  world  below 
Was  more  than  half  conceived,  to  parley  there 
At  its  own  footstool,  and  lay  down  its  crown 
And  elemental  commune  with  the  skies. 
Because  its  height  was  so  intolerable, 
And  its  supremacy  termed  tyranny? 
Why  look  ye  all  amort  ]     Is  doomsday  come  ? 
Stand  forth,  and  speak,  sole  servant  of  my  throne! 
If  aught  thou  hast  to  settle  and  explain  — 
Or  straightway  send  these  nations  to  their  homes. 
Lucifer.     Ye  mighty  once  —  ye   many  weak,  give 
ear ! 
I  and  my  god  —  for  god  he  sure  he  must  be. 
In  human  form,  who  sitteth  there  enthroned  — 
For  readier  rule,  and  for  the  good  of  all. 
Have  cast  again  the  dynasties  of  earth 
According  to  the  courses  of  the  air :  — 
Therefore,  from  East,  and  West,  and  North,  and  South, 
Four  element-like  ministers  shall  bend 
Before  his  feet.     Hearken,  thou  unkinged  crowd  ! 
Ye  have  not  sought  the  good  of  those  ye  governed. 
The  people  only  for  the  people  care. 
Ye  seem  to  have  thought  earth  but  a  ball  for  kings 
To  play  with:  rolling  the  royal  bauble,  empire, 
Now  East  —  now  West.     Your  hour  and  power  is  past. 


FESTUS.  595 

Ye  are  the  very  vainest  of  mankind, 

As  loftiest  things  weigh  lightest.     Ye  are  gone ! 

Nations,  away  with  them  !     Nor  do  ye  boast ! 

Ye  find  that  power  means  not  good,  not  bliss. 

But  ye  would  wed  delusion :  —  now,  ye  know  her. 

And  she  is  yours  for  life  —  and  death  —  and  judgment. 

There  is  no  power,  nor  majesty,  save  his : 

His  is  the  kingdom  of  the  world  and  glory. 

His  throne  is  founded  centre-deep  by  Heaven ; 

And  the  whole  earth  doth  bless  him.     Unto  all 

He  hath  laid  out  one  perfect,  level  law  — 

His  will.     For  as  the  people  cannot  rule 

Themselves,  so  neither  may  a  crowd  of  kings : 

And  hence  hath  been  the  evil  of  the  earth  — 

Now  ceased  forever.     War  will  be  no  more. 

His  is  the  sway  of  social,  sovereign  peace : 

His  tyranny  is  love  and  good  to  all :  — 

His  is  the  vice-royed,  vouched-safe  sway  of  God :  — 

And  he  will  turn  the  world,  at  will ;  as  light 

Turneth    the   world    round.      Greet    your   Lord,    and 

Depart,  ye  nations  !  — 

Festus.  Hark !  thou  fiend  !  dost  hear  1  go  !  — 

Lucifer.     Ay  !    it  is  the  death   groan  of   the  sons 
of  men  — 
Thy  subjects  —  King  I 

Festus.  Why  hadst  thou  this  so  soon  1 

Lucifer.     It   is    God  who   brings   it   all    about  — 

not  I. 
Festus.     I  am  not  ready  —  and  —  it  shall  not  be ! 


596  FESTUS. 

Lucifer.     I  cannot  help  it,  monarch  !  and  —  it  is ! 
Hast  not  had  time  for  good  ^ 

Festus.  One  day  —  perchance. 

Lucifer.     Then  hold  that  day  as  an  eternity. 

Festus.     All    around    me   die.     The   earth    is    one 
great  death  bed. 

Clara.     Oh !    save    me,  Festus !      I    have    fled    to 
thee, 
Through  all  the  countless  nations  of  yon  dead  — 
For  well  I  knew  it  was   thou  who  sattest  there  — 
To  die  with  thee,  if  that  thou  art  not  death : 
And  if  thou  wert,  I  would  not  shrink  from  thee. 
I  am  thine  own,  own  Clara ! 

Festus.  Thou  art  safe  ! 

Here  in  the  holy  chancel  of  my  heart  — 
The  heavenly  end  of  this  our  fleshly  fane  — 
I  hold  thee  to  communion.     E-est  thee  safe ! 

Clara.     Men  thought  I  was  an  angel,  as  I  passed ; 
And  caught  up  at  my  feet  —  but  I  'scaped  all. 
I  knew. —  I  was  sure,  that  I  should  die  by  thee. 
The  heart  is  a  true  oracle  —  I  knew  it ! 

Festus.      Then  there  is  faith  among  these  mortals 
yet. 
Thy  beauty  cometh  first,  and  goeth  last  — 
Willow-like.     Welcome ! 

Clara.  Oh!  I  am  so  happy! 

Festus.     I  speak  of  thee  as  of  the  dead ;  —  the  dead 
Are  alway  faithful. 

Clara.  I  will  stay  with  thee  — 


FESTUS.  597 

Though  angels  beckon  —  may  I  ?     Let  me,  love  ! 
I  dare  not,  cannot,  take  mine  eyes  from  thee, 
For  fear  of  lookmg  on  the  dead.     Dear  Festus  ! 

Festus.     Thou  art  the  only  one  hast  answered  me, 
Love  to  love  —  life  to  life. 

Clara.  Oh !  I  am  dying ! 

Give  me  one  kiss  —  the  kiss  of  life  and  death  — 
The  only  taste  of  earth  I  will  take  to  Heaven. 
Here !  let  me  die,  die  in  it !  [Dies, 

Festus.  Last  and  best ! 

Now  am  I  one  again.     Oh  !  memory  runs 
To  madness,  like  a  river  to  the  sea. 
Happy  as  Heaven  have  I  been  with  thee,  love! 
Thine  innocent  heart  hath  passed  through  a  pure  life. 
Like  a  white  dove,  wing-sunned  through  the  blue  sky. 
A  better  heart  God  never  saved  in  Heaven. 
She  died  as  all  the  good  die  —  blessing  —  hoping. 
There   are    some    hearts,    aloe-like,   flower   once,   and 

die  — 
And  hers  was  of  them.  —  Thrall  art  thou,  and  free: 
Free  of  immortal  life,  though  bound  of  death. 
Not  the  emotional  surface  of  the  sea. 
Whose  form  from  things  without  is  ta'en,  but  more 
The  deep,  essential  quiet  of  its  bed 
Thy  soul  resembled  in  the  pure  profound. 
Thy  love  to  me  was  as  the  morning  dew, 
Earth's  liquid  jewellery,  wrought  of  air. 
Young  Nature's  christening ;  whose  every  bead, 
Round  as  the  globular  genesis  of  things, 


598  FESTUS 

And  bright  as  Heaven's  own  gems  in  diamond  set, 

Emblemed  its  pure  perfection  o'er  this  heart, 

Now  sun-parched,  thunder-scorched ;  yet  stricken  thus 

Feeling  myself  each  hour,  each  pulse  I  live 

More  mightily  drawn  to  join  and  glory  in 

All  being's  everlasting  sense  of  God. 

I  see  the  universe  made  clear  with  light, 

Holy  with  spirit,  pure  with  Deity ; 

Man,  the  dear  son  of  God,  to  God  returned, 

And  earth's  renascent  nature  throned  in  Heaven. 

The  voice  of  ages,  syllabled  in  suns, 

Pronounces  God's  unceasing  benison 

Upon  His  bright  creation.     Time  is  touched 

On  all  hands  by  the  Eternal,  and  the  world 

Is  bounded,  rounded,  ended  but  by  Heaven. 

Therefore  the  soul  in  death  resilient 

Looks  back  to  whence  its  impulse  came,  to  God; 

And  all  things  lovely  and  divine  that  here 

It  loved  in  spirit  are  with  it  conjoined. 

And  mingled  with  the  future  of  the  stars, 

And  blissful  occupation  of  all  space. 

As  pending  time,  the  past  and  future,  cause 

Chief  reasons,  and  the  present  but  a  point. 

So  in  eternity  all's  presentness. 

Hence,  therefore,  from  me  now  all  thoughts  of  earth  ; 

Be  they  as  in  a  lake  of  lightning  quenched ; 

In  lone  annihilation  lie  entombed ; 

And  memory's  pall  be  buried  with  the  bier. 

There  lies  my  soul's  love.      Ah!  all  life  hath  ceased. 


FESTUS.  599 

And  silence  reads  the  dead  world's  burial  tale. 
And  Death  sits  quivering  there,  and  watering, 
His  great,  gaunt  jaw  at  me.     When  must  I  die] 

Lucifer.     Say!   dost    thou   feel    to    be   mortal,    or 
immortal  ? 

Festus.     Away  !  —  and  let  me  die  alone. 

Lucifer.  I  go  :  — 

And  I  will  come  again ;  but  spare  thee,  now, 
One  hour,  to  think —  \_Goes. 

Festus.  On  all  things.     God,  my  God ! 

One  hour  to  sum  a  life's  iniquities  !  — 
One  hour  to  fit  me  for  eternity  — 
To  make  me  up  for  judgment  and  for  God!  — 
Only  one  hour  to  curse  thee!     Nay,  for  that, 
There  may  be  endless  hours.     God !  I  despair,  — 
And  I  am  dying.     Let  me  hold  my  breath ! 
I  know  not  if  I  ever  may  draw  another. 
I  feel  Death  blowing  hard  at  the  lamp  of  life. 
My  heart  feels  filling  like  a  sinking  boat ; 
It  will  soon  be  down  —  down.    What  will  come  of  me  \ 
It  is  as  I  always  wished  it ;  —  I  shall  die 
In  darkness,  and  in  silence,  and  alone. 
Even  my  last  wish  is  petted.     God !  I  thank  Thee ; 
It  is  the  earnest  of  Thy  coming  —  what  1 
Forgiveness  1     Let  it  be  so :  for  I  know  not 
What  I  have  done  to  merit  endless  pain. 
Is  pleasure  crime  1     Forbid  it,  God  of  bliss  I 
Who  spurn  at  this  world's  pleasures,  lie  to  God; 
And  show  they  are  not  worthy  of  the  next. 


(^00  FESTUS. 

What  are  Thy  joys  we  know  not  —  nor  can  we 

Come  near  Thee,  in  Thy  power,  nor  truth,  nor  justice: 

The  nearest  point  wherein  we  come  towards  Thee 

Is  loving  —  making  love  —  and  being  happy. 

Thou  wilt  not  chronicle  our  sand-like  sins  ; 

For  sin  is  small,  and  mean,  and  barren.     Good, 

Only,  is  great,  and  generous,  and  fruitful. 

Number  the  mountains,  not  the  sands,  O  God ! 

God  will  not  look  as  we  do  on  our  deeds  ; 

Nor  yet  as  others.     If  He  more  condemn, 

Shall  He  not  more  approve  1     A  few  fair  deeds 

Bedeck  my  life,  like  gilded  cherubs  on 

A  tomb,  beneath  which  lie  dust,  decay,  and  darkness. 

But  each  is  better  than  the  other  thinks. 

Thank  God !  man  is  not  to  be  judged  by  man ;  — 

Or,  man  by  man,  the  world  would  damn  itself 

What  do  I  seel     It  is  the  dead.     They  rise 

In  clouds!  and  clouds  come  sweeping  from  all  sides, 

Upwards  to  God:  and  now  they  all  are  gone  — 

Gone,  in  a  moment,  to  eternity. 

But  there  is  something  near  me. 

SriRiT.  It  is  I. 

Festus.     Go  on  !  I  follow,  when  it  is  my  time. 
Not  perfect  yet  the  complement  of  Heaven. 
There  is  no  shadow  on  the  face  of  life: 
It  is  the  noon  of  fate.     Why  may  not  I  die? 
Methinks  I  shall  have  yet  to  slay  myself 
I  am  calm  now.     Can  this  be  the  same  heart 
AVhich,  when  it  did  sleep,  slept  from  dizziness, 


FESTUS.  601 

And  pure  rapidity  of  passion,  like 

The  centre  circlet  of  the  whirlpool's  wheel? 

The  earth  is  breaking  up  ;   all  things  are  thawing. 

River  and  mountain  melt  into  their  atoms : 

A  little  time,  and  atoms  will  be  all. 

The  sea  boils ;  and  the  mountains  rise  and  sink 

Like  marble  bubbles,  bursting  into  death. 

0  thou  Hereafter!  on  whose  shore  I  stand  — 
Waiting  each  toppling  moment  to  ingulf  me  — 
What  am  I  ?     Say,  thou  Present !  —  say,  thou  Past ! 
Ye  three  wise  children  of  Eternity ! 

A  life  ?  —  a  death  1  —  and  an  immortal  ?  —  alH 

Is  this  the  threefold  mystery  of  man  ] 

The  lower,  darker  trinity  of  earth  1 

It  is  vain  to  ask.     Nought  answers  me  —  not  God. 

The  air  grows  thick  and  dark.     The  sky  comes  down. 

The  sun  draws  round  him  streaky  clouds,  like  God 

Gleaning  up  wrath.     Hope  hath  leaped  off  my  heart. 

And  overturned  it.     I  am  bound  to  die. 

God !   why  wilt   Thou   not   save  1     The   great,  round 

world 
Hath  wasted  to  a  column  beneath  my  feet. 

1  will  hurl  me  off  it,  then ;  and  search  the  depth 
Of  space,  in  this  one  infinite  plunge  !     Farewell 

To  Earth,  and    Heaven,    and    God !      Doom !    spread 

thy  lap  ; 
I  come  —  I  come !     But  no  !  may  God  forbear 
To  judge  the  tempted  purpose  of  my  heart ! 

76  TT 


602  FESTUS. 

Me  hath  He  'stablished  here,  and  He  will  save ; 
And  I  can  smile  destruction  in  the  face. 
Let  His  strong  hand  compress  the  marble  world, 
And  wring  the  starry  fire-blood  from  its  heart; 
Still  on  this  earth-core  I  rejoice  in  God ; 
I  know  Him  and  believe  in  Him  as  Love, 
And  this  divinest  truth  He  hath  inspired,  — 
Mercy  to  man  is  justice  to  Himself. 
He  His  hand  opened,  and  the  world  was  bom. 
He  shuts  it,  and  the  essential  nothingness. 
Embodied,  dies  its  everlasting  death. 
The  infinite  conclusion  of  all  things. 
Open  thine  arms,  O  Death  !   thou  fine  of  woe 
And  warrantry  of  bliss !     I  feel  the  last 
Red  mountainous  remnant  of  the  earth  give  way. 
The  stars  are  rushing  upwards  to  the  light ; 
My  limbs  are  light,  and  liberty  is  mine. 
The  spirit's  infinite  purity  consumes 
The  sullied  soul.     Eternal  destiny 
Opens  its  bright  abyss.     I  am  God's! 

God. 

Man,  die ! 


FESTUS.  603 

Scene  —  The  Skies. 

God,  Angels,  Angel  of  Earth,  Lucifer, 

God. 
The  age  of  matter  consummates  itself. 
All  things  that  are  shall  end,  save  that  is  mine. 
As  with  one  world,  so  shall  it  be  with  all ; 
For  all  are  human,  fallible,  and  false,  — 
As  creature  towards  Creator  must  be  aye. 
But  for  the  whole  prepare  ye,  not  the  less 
Grade  upon  grade  of  glory,  sons  of  God ! 
The  world  begins  and  ends  with  Paradise, 
The  garden  and  the  city  of  the  blest. 
And  earth  shall  live  again,  and,  like  her  sons, 
Have  resurrection  to  a  brighter  being; 
And  waken  like  a  bride,  or  like  a  morning. 
With  a  long  blush  of  love  to  a  new  life. 
Another  race  of  souls  shall  rule  in  her. 
Creatures  all  loving,  beautiful,  and  holy. 
Go,  angel!  guide  her,  as  before,  through  Heaven. 
Angel  of  Earth.     On !  on  !  my  world  again  ! 
Away  we  fly 

Through  Heaven's  blue  plain. 
Like  thought  through  the  eye. 
Ye  angels,  keep  your  Heaven  ! 
I,  earth.     For  that  with  God  I  have  striven, 
.  And  have  prevailed. 


604  FESTUS. 

I  come  once  more, 
I  come  to  thee,  Earth ! 
Like  a  ship  to  shore. 
Lucifer.     Have   not    I    triumphed  o'er   the   earth 
that  was  1 

God. 
Prince  of  the  powers  of  air !  thy  doom  is  nigh. 
The  prison-place  of  spirits  is  for  thee  — 
As  for  all  others  thou  hast  wronged,  for  a  time  — 
But  those  who,  by  my  favor,  die  not.     Him 
Conduct,  ye  angels,  into  Hades ;  there 
To  wait  my  will  while  the  world's  Sabbath  lasts 


Scene  —  The  Millennial  Earth. 

Saints  and  Angels  worshipping  ;  Festus. 

Saints.      To    Thee,    God,    Maker,    Ruler,    Savior, 
Judge ! 
The  Infinite,  the  Universal  One ; 
Whose  righteousnesses  are  as  numberless 
As  creature  sins ;  who  Giver  art  of  life ; 
Who  sawest  from  the  first  that  all  was  good 
Which  Thou  didst  make,  and  sealed  it  with  Thy  love, 
rhy  boundless  benediction  on  the  world ; 
To  Thee  be  honor,  glory,  prayer,  and  praise, 
And  full-orbed  worship  from  all  worlds,  all  Heavens! 
May  every  being  bless  Thee  in  return 


FESTUS.  605 

As  Thou  dost  bless  it ;  every  age  and  orb 

Utter  to  Thee  the  praise  Thou  dost  inspire. 

Let  man,  Lord!  praise  Thee  most  as  all  redeemed, 

As  many  in  the  saints,  as  one  in  Thee! 

Oh!  may  perpetual  pleasure,  peace,  and  joy. 

And  spiritual  light  inform  all  souls, 

And  grace  and  mercy  in  bliss  thousand  fold 

Enwrap  the  world  of  life.     May  all  who  dwell 

On  open  earth,  or  in  the  hid  abyss, 

Howe'er  they  sin  or  suffer,  in  the  end 

Receive  as  beings  born  at  first  of  Thee 

The  mercy  that  is  mightier  than  all  ill. 

May  all  souls  love  each  other  in  all  worlds 

And  all  conditions  of  existence;  even 

As  now  these  lower  lives  that  dwell  with  man 

In  amity,  rejoicing  in  the  care 

Of  their  superior,  and  in  useful  peace. 

Upon  the  common  earth  no  more  distaihed 

With  mutual  slaughter  —  no  more  doomed  to  groan 

At  sights  of  woe,  and  cruelty,  and  crime. 

Lo!  all  things,  now  rejoicing  in  the  life 

Thou  art  to  each  and  givest,  live  to  Thee ; 

And  knowing  others'  nature  and  their  own, 

Live  in  serene  delight,  content  with  good. 

Yet  earnest  for  the  last  and  best  degree. 

Their  hands  are  full  of  kindness,  and  their  tongues 

Are  full  of  blessings,  and  their  hearts  of  gooc\ 

All  things  are  happy  here.     May  kindness,  truth, 

Wisdom,  and  knowledge,  liberty,  and  power. 


606  FESTUS. 

Virtue,  and  holiness  o'erspread  all  orbs 
As  this  star  now  —  the  world  be  bliss  and  love  — 
And  Heaven  alone  be  all  things ;   till  at  last 
The  music  from  all  souls^  redeemed  shall  rise, 
Like  a  perpetual  fountain  of  pure  sound 
Upspringing,  sparkling  in  the  silvery  blue  — 
From  round  creation  to  Thy  feet,  O  God! 

Angel.     The  earth  is  all  one  Eden.     Pity,  sure. 
That  it  should  ever  end. 

Saint.  I  say  not  so; 

Although  I  have  a  thousand  plans  in  hand. 
Some  interwoven  with  the  farthest  stars  — 
Each  one  of  which  might  ask  a  year  of  years 
To  perfect. 

Angel.        True ;   our  Maker  knoweth  best 
What  thought  or  deed  may  best  belong  to  time 
Or  to  eternity. 

Saint.  All  prophecy 

Hath  said  the  earth  shall  cease,  and  that  right  soon. 

Festus.       'Tis    like    enough.       Beauty's     akin     to 
Death. 

Angel.      Behold,  our  sister  Graces  of  the  skies, 
Faith,  Hope,  and  Love,  descend!     Methinks,  of  late, 
Ye  chiefly  dwell  on  earth. 

EovE.  Where  lives  and  reigns 

The  Son  of  God,  there  are  we  ever  seen, 
Successive,  as  the  seasons  to  the  sun. 

Saints.     Well    are   ye    known  and  welcome  in  all 
worlds. 


FESTUS.  607 

A\Tierever  lofty  thought  or  godly  deed 

Is  lodged  or  compassed,  there  your  blessings  rest. 

Hope.     How  sweet,  how  sacred  now,  this  earth  of 
man's, 
The  prelude  of  a  yet  sublimer  bliss  !  — 
I  marked  it  from  the  first,  while  yet  it  lay 
Lightless  and  stirless  ;  ere  the  forming  fire 
AVas  kindled  in  its  bosom,  or  the  land 
Lift  its  volcanic  breastwork  up  from  sea. 
The  deluge  and  idolatries  of  men 
I  viewed,  though  shuddering,  and  with  faltering  eye, 
E'en  to  the  incarnation  of  Heaven's  Lord, 
And  dawning  of  His  faith ;  that  faith  which  was 
An  infant,  and  anon  a  giant ;  was 
A  star,  and  grew  a  Heaven-fulfilling  sun; 
Which  was  an  outcast,  and  became,  ere  long, 
A  dweller  in  all  palaces  ;  which  hid 
Its  head  in  dens  of  deserts,  and  sat  throned, 
After,  in  richest  temples  high  as  hills ; 
Which  was  poured  out  in  mortal  blood,  and  rose 
In  an  immortal  spirit ;   as  a  slave 
Was  sold  for  gold  and  prostrated  to  Power ;  — 
And  now  that  lowly  bondmaid  is  a  queen ; 
And  lo !  she  is  beloved  in  Earth  and  Heaven  ; 
And  lieth  in  the  bosom  of  her  Lord, 
The  Bride  of  the  All- worshipped,  one  with  God. 

Love.     We  even  of  divinest  origin 
In  infinite  progression  view  all  worlds ; 
And  we  are  happy. 


608  F  E  S  T  u  s . 

Faith.  The  dead  sleep,  as  yet; 

But  their  time  cometh,  and  the  bonds  of  death 
Already  slacken  round  the  living  soul; 
The  mortal  sleep  of  ages,  which  began 
When  Time  sank  down  into  his  slumberous  west, 
Thins  even  now  o'er  the  reviving  eyes 
Gathering  their  Heayen-lent  light,  no  more  to  wane 
In  woe  or  age ;  never  be  quenched  in  tears. 
Like  a  star  in  the  sea.     'Tis  as  I  ever  knew ; 
My  life  is  to  receive  and  to  believe 
The  Word  and  words  of  God. 

Love.  I,  who  am  Love, 

And  Grace,  and  Charity,  rejoice  with  you ; 
Whither  ye  wend,  I  with  ye ;  whether  here. 
Or  on  the  utmost  rim  of  Light's  broad  reign  — 
The  least  and  last  of  stars  which  even  seems 
To  tremble  at  its  insignificance 
In  presence  of  Infinity ;  where  yet 
No  angel's  wing  hath  waved,  nor  foot  of  fiend 
Left  its  hot  imprint;  —  still,  in  all  do  we 
Find  fit  delight  and  honor,  as  now  here. 
Now    Earth    and    Heaven    hold    commune,    day   and 

night ; 
There's  not  a  wind  but  bears  upon  its  wing 
The  messages  of  God,  and  not  a  star 
But  knows  the  bliss  of  earth. 

Festus.  The  earth  hath  God 

Remade,  and  all  its  elements  refined,' 
Fit  for  sublimer  being.     Flesh  hath  passed 


FESTUS.  609 

Its  fiery  baptism,  and  come  forth  clear 

As  crystal  gold :   all  that  of  vile  or  mean 

Pertained  to  it  hath  perished  atomies  s. 

Earth,  like  a  diamond,  basks  in  her  own  free  light; 

Unfed,  unaided,  unrequiring  aught. 

All  now  is  purity,  and  power,  and  peace. 

The  first-born  of  creation,  they  who  hail 

Archangels  as  their  brethren,  mountain-like 

Reign  o'er  the  plains  of  men,  converting  all ; 

Reaping  the  fields  of  immortality. 

Each  one  his  sheaf,  for  Him,  the  Harvest-Lord, 

To  whom  belongs  earth's  whole  estate  and  life. 

And  every  world's. 

Angel.  And  He  shall  garner  all. 

The  awful  tribes  which  have  in  Hades  dwelt, 
Past  count  of  time,  await  their  rising.     God's 
Great  day,  the  Sabbath  of  the  world's  long  week. 
Is  at  high  noon ;  and  Christ  hath  yet  to  come 
To  judge  and  save  the  living  and  the  dead. 

Saint.     The  shadows  of  eternity  o'ercast 
/Already  Time's    bright    towers.      The    Heavens    shall 

come 
Down  like  a  cloud  upon  a  hill,  and  sweep 
Their  spirit  over  earth,  and  the  whole  face 
And  form  of  things  shall  be  dissolved  and  changed. 
Nothing  shall  be  but  essence,  perfect,  pure, 
And  void  of  every  attribute  but  God's. 
This  even  is  too  gross  for  that  which  is 
To  come.     The  holy  hath  both  Earth  and  Heaven. 

77 


610  FESTUS. 

Festus.     Nor  pain,  nor  toil  of  mind  or  frame,  nor 
doubt, 
Nor  discontent,  nor  enmity  to  God, 
Disturb  the  steady  joy  the  spirit  feels  ; 
Nor  element  can  torture,  nor  time  tire; 
Nor  sea,  nor  mountain  make,  or  bar,  or  fear ; 
Sickness,  and  woe,  and  death  are  things  gone  by; 
Destroyed  with  the  destruction  of  the  world :  — 
Shadows  of  things  which  have  been,  nevermore 
To  waste  the  world's  bright  hours,  nor  grate  the  heart 
Of  mighty  man ;  now  fit  for  thrones  and  wings ; 
Ruler  of  worlds,  main  minister  of  Heaven, 
Inheritor  of  all  the  prophecies 
Of  God  fore-uttered  through  the  tongues  of  Time, 
Ages  of  ages.     Evil  is  no  more. 

Archangel.     And  does  earth  satisfy  thee  now  ? 

Festus.  As  earth. 

There  is  a  brighter,  loftier  life  for  man 
Even  yet,  the  very  union  with  God. 

Archangel.     God  works  by  means.     Between  the 
two  extremes 
Of  Earth  and  Heaven  there  lies  a  mediate  state, - 
A  pause  between  the  lightning  lapse  of  life 
And  following  thunders  of  eternity ;  — 
Between  eternity  and  time  a  lapse. 
To  soul  unconscious,  though  age-lasting,  where 
Spirit  is  tempered  to  its  final  fate ; 
Within  or  between  worlds,  repose  or  bliss, 
Divested,  man  shall  mix  with  Deity, 


F EST us.  611 

And  the  Eternal  and  Immortal  make 

One  Being.     As  in  earth's  first  paradise 

God's  Spirit  walked  with  man,  and  commune  made 

With  him  ;  so  in  the  second,  after  death, 

Man's  spirit  walks  with  God  in  an  elect 

Existence,  and  a  vigil  of  the  great, 

The  holy  day  which  is  to  break  in  Heaven. 

Thither  the  Lord  of  Life  went,  in  the  hour 

That  Hell  by  Earth  revenged  itself  on  Heaven, 

With  one  soul  penitent  accompanied ;  — 

Nor  long  remained  He  there,  yet  long  enough 

To  cheer  earth's  faithful,  who  received  Him  then 

In  silent,  unknown  blessedness  of  soul, 

With  time-outwearing  hope  that  yet  in  Him 

They  should  partake  the  Godhood  of  His  love. 

And  with  Him  rose  then,  in  prophetic  proof 

Of  His  Divinity,  many  a  deathless  ghost. 

Triumphant  o'er  that  blind  revenge  which  wrought, 

Hell !  thy  destruction  —  thy  salvation,  Earth  ! 

Festus.     That   such  will   be,  the  just  well  know; 
and  all 
Earth's  great  events  and  changes  tend  thereto ; 
Its  fiery  dissolution  in  the  past. 
And  supernatural  recommencement  now 
Under  the  universal  creed  of  Christ. 
The  chosen  and  the  world-redeemed  partake 
His  personal  and  spiritual  reign. 

Archangel.     And  this  shall  last,  till,  like  the  set- 
ting sun 


612  FESTUS. 

Deserting  earth,  He  shall  retire  to  Heaven, 
With  all  His  captive  victors  in  His  train, 
Triumphant,  and  translated  evermore 
Into  the  hierarchal  skies.     Wilt  see, 
While  yet  time  is,  earth's  shadowy  world  within  — 
The  inward  living  death  she  bears  about 
Her  heart,  halh  ever  borne  —  and,  augur-like. 
Explore  the  ominous  bowels  of  the  earth  1 
To  me  are  given  the  secrets  of  the  centre, 
The  keys  of  earth,  to  lock  and  to  unlock. 
Coffer-like.     I  it  was  who  seized  and  bound,  — 
At  His  behest  who  wills  and  it  is  done, — 
Even  on  their  thrones,  the  mighty  thou  wilt  see. 

Festus.     Angel    of  Heaven !    I  would    view   these 
things. 

Archangel.     Nor   these   alone,   but  other  wonders 
yet. 
The  valley  where  Death's  dark  wings  brooded  o'er, 
A  God-offending  night,  unvisited 
By  sun  or  star,  where  but  the  fatuous  lire 
Of  man's  weak  judgment  wandered,  till  God's  Son 
Laid  o'er  the  black  abyss  a  bridge  of  light. 
And  married  Earth  to  the  main  land  of  Heaven  — 
This  shalt  thou  see,  Death's  grave;  and  over  him. 
And  over  it,  that  monument  of  light. 
Enlightening  earth.     The  gods  and  fiends  of  old, 
And  all  the  fictions  of  the  heart  of  man, 
Imagined  of  the  future  past  for  aye. 
Thou  shalt  inspect.     Behold  this  mountain !     We 


FESTUS.  618 

Must  pass  through  it ;  for  under  lie  the  gates 
Of  the  invisible  regions  whereunto 
We  tend,  for  a  brief  season. 

Festus.  On,  then! 

Archangel.  Bare 

Thy  marble  breast,  O  mountain,  to  its  depths  ! 
An  angel  and  a  man  divine  demand 
A  vray  through  these  foundations. 

Festus.  And  the  rocks 

Open  like  mists  before  thee. 

Archangel.  Follow  me! 


Scene  —  Hades 

Archangel,  Festus,  Death,  Lucifer. 

Festus.      Almighty    God !    sustain    me.       This    is 
Death ;  — 
And  this  —  I  knew  not,  angel !  he  was  here  — 
Is  Lucifer  —  the  fallen,  like  a  bolt 
Of  thunder  forged  in  intramundane  air, 
Self-buried  in  the  centre.     Lucifer! 
Wake  from  thy  sea-like  sleep ;  in  peace  or  wrath, 
Rouse  from  thine  age-long  trance ;  arise  and  see ; 
The  representatives  of  Earth  and  Heaven 
Stand  by  thee.     As  for  me,  I  blame  no  more 
The  part  thou  tookest  in  my  mortal  life  ; 
'Tis  gone,  —  nor  spurn  thee  for  delusions  dead. 


bl4  ^-ssTus. 

Tlie  blood  that  hath  been  spilt  is  sunk  in  earth, 
And  run  into  the  rivers,  and  dried  up 
Into  the  air ;  —  and  there's  an  end  of  it. 
What  good  hath  come  of  it  alone  I  bear 
At  heart.     And  we  have  both  offended  God. 
Let  me,  though  not  in  nature  to  forget, 
Forgive,  what  every  one  hath  sometime  felt  — 
The  Devil's  burning  gripe  upon  his  heart. 
I  see  thee  with  compassion,  half  with  hope. 

Lucifer.     Mortal !  I  bow  to  thee,  and  would  do  id 
The  least  and  lowest  spirit  God  hath  made ; 
But  still  the  curse  that  I  am  cursed  with 
Outlasts  the  element  j  —  outlives  all  time. 

Festus.     All  curses  cease  with  time ;  all  ill,  all  woe 
Blessings  star  forth  forever,  but  a  curse 
Is  like  a  cloud  —  it  passes. 

Lucifer.  'Twas  by  him  — 

Yon  angel,  only  not  almighty,  there ! 
As  with  a  chain  of  mountains  I  was  bound 
And  hurled  into  this  unformed,  nebulous  life; 
Stripped  of  all  might  when  mightiest,  struck  down 
While  triumphing  the  loftiest,  —  enslaved 
When  most  a  monarch  o'er  both  earth  and  helL 
And  made  a  shadow  among  shadows  here. 
It  recks  not.     Let  the  impenetrable  soul 
Be  ground  as  through  a  mill,  I  only  kn<-w 
In  action,  or  inaction,  equal  woe  — 
Suffering,  doing,  being,  one  extreme. 
Pass  on !  we  meet  again. 


FESTUS.  615 

Festus.  And  when  we  do. 

May  God  forgive,  as  I !  — 

Archangel  Behold  there,  Death  ! 

Throned  on  his  tomb  —  entombed  in  his  throne  ; 
Just  as  he  ceased  he  rests  for  aye  —  his  scythe, 
Still  wet  out  of  its  bloody  swath,  one  hand 
Tottering  sustains  •  the  -^ther  strikes  the  cold 
Drops  from  his  bony  brow :  his  mouldy  breath 
Tainteth  all  air. 

Festus.  I  d^ead  him  now  no  more, 

Nor  hate.     He  is  a  vanquished  enemy. 

Archangel.     Listen  !  he  speaks. 

Death.  To  you,  ye  sons  of  God, 

My  latest  words  I  utter.     Unto  Him 
Who  ever  lives,  and  hath  for  aye  destroyed 
Me  and  my  reign,  give  ye  this  crown  usurped. 
And  lay  it  at  His  feet ;  and  this  dulled  dart 
Which  was  my  sceptre.     To  the  conqueror 
Belong  these  trophies.     All  the  progeny 
Of  time  will  soon  cease.     Lo !  the  end's  at  hand. 

Archangel.     Thus  shall  it  be,  O  Death  !  and  thus 
it  is. 

Festus.     And  who  are  these  gigantic,  awful  shades 
Which  fill  the  midst  —  the  present  of  the  place  ] 

Archangel.      These  are  the  mighty  nothings  man 
Made ;  the  dread  unrealities  by  whom 
He  swore,  to  whom  he  prayed,  and  at  whose  shrines 

of  old 
He  sacrificed  a  thousand  times  a  day :  — 


616  FESTUS. 

His  brother  falsehoods  these,  men  like  himself, 
Which  mere  imagination  changed  to  gods. 
Some  for  their  good  deeds,  others  for  their  bad: 
Bel,  Odin,  Bramh,  and  Zeus,  the  lords  of  death, 
And  fire,  and  judgment,  waiting  here  their  death 
And  fiery  judgment  —  Time  and  Titan  —  war  — 
Beauty,  and  strength,  and  light,  and  the  long  roll 
Of  creatural  powers  and  passions  deified  ;  — 
Who  gave  their  names  to  stars  which  still  roam  round 
The  skies,  all  worshipless,  even  from  climes 
Where  their  own  altars  once  topped  every  hill. 

Jove.      Before    the    Christian    cross    and    Moslem 
mosque 
My  marble  fanes  have  fallen,  and  my  shrines 
Shrunk  like  a  withered  hand  ages  ago. 
But  now  all  signs  and  sacred  domes  for  gods 
To  dwell  in  are  extinct.     The  world  is  all 
One  Temple  of  the  Truth. 

Bramh.  The  ages  feigned, 

That  made  Time  groan  to  think  how  old  he  was, 
And  deities  in  millions,  are  no  more. 
Ageless  eternity,  and  God  the  sole, 
The  royalty  of  Heaven,  is  at  hand. 

BooDH.     All  things  that  are  shall  nothing  be  at  last. 
Save  what's  resolvable  in  Deity. 

Festus.     And  all  yon  lesser  shades,  which  move  lik 
moons. 
Half  darkened  by  the  greater  —  half  illumed  — 
Are  priests  and  prophets  of  the  mightier  ones  1 


FESTOS.  6"J7 

Archangel.     They  are;  —  and  farther  round  thme 
eye  can  mark 
The  myriads  of  adorers  of  each  god, 
Confused  and  prostrate,  as  their  souls  awake 
To  the  demoniac  madness  of  their  creeds. 
Behold !  they  kneel  to  those  they  hailed  on  earth 
As  makers  —  as  omnipotent  —  eterne  — 
And  cry  for  help,  for  comfort ;  none  have  they 
To  give  to  others  or  themselves.     The  false. 
The  base,  the  brutish  deities  give  way, 
And  all  their  sacred  follies  in  their  train, 
Before  the  earthquake  truth,  ingulfing  all. 
Woe  to  the  false  gods,  woe!  to  prophet,  priest, 
And  worshipper,  all  woe  ! 

Festus.  Hark  !   round  the  earth 

Each  soul  hath  found  a  tongue,  and  uttereth  woe. 
Lo !  from  their  thrones  the  man-made  gods  descend, 
And  rend  their  robes,  and  trample  on  their  crowns, 
And  hurl  away  their  sceptres.     Woe  to  all 
The  gods  and  idols  of  the  heart  of  man ! 
Their  sun  is  set  forever  in  the  night 
Which  was  ere  Light  was.     Surely  it  is  more 
To  be  true  man  or  w^oman  than  false  god 
And  falser  prophet.     God  alone  the  true. 
The  God  of  Heaven,  shall  be  witnessed  to 
And  worshipped. 

Archangel.  Witnessed,  worshipped,  too, 

By  all:  the  faithful  and  the  faithless  —  saint 
And  sinner. 

78  zz* 


618  FESTD5. 

Festus.         Lo  !  the  nations  of  the  dead, 
Which  do  outnumber  all  earth's  races,  rise, 
And  high  in  sumless  myriads  overhead 
Sweep  past  us  in  a  cloud,  as  'twere  the  skirts 
Of  the  Eternal  passing. 

A  Voice.  Souls,  arise 

To  deathless  life ! 

Archangel.  It  is  God  speaks.     Let  us  hence. 

The  general  judgment  is  in  hand,  —  God's  hand.      ' 
The  souls  of  those  whom  God  loves  circle  us. 
For  thee,  thy  lot  thou  knowest.     As  a  seed 
Buried  in  earth  doth  multiply  itself 
Full  fifty  fold,  so  will  thy  nature,  when. 
Changed,  it  lifts  head  in  the  air  divine  of  Heaven. 

Festus.     Out  of  the  depths  of  earth  and  the  world's 
womb 
Thine  unborn  angels  seek  thee,  God,  all  Love ! 
Now  is  Thine  hour  for  which  all  hours  were  made, 
All  life  created,  all  things  else  ordained; 
Be  it  the  hour  of  mercy.  Lord !  to  all. 
For  Thy  Son's  sake,  who,  for  the  sake  of  man, 
Came  down  from  Heaven  into  the  pit  of  earth. 
And  lived  as  one  of  us,  and  died ;  —  He  died 
The  death  of  all  at  once  of  every  age ; 
The  world's  accumulated  weight  of  woe, 
From  its  first  life  unto  its  last,  which  none 
But  the  Omnipotent  could  bear  —  He  bore; 
And  all  for  us.     God  became  man  that  man 
Might  become  God.     Oh,  favor  infinite! 


FESTUS.  619 

N'ow  reap  the  righteous,  righteous  but  in  Him 

Any,  their  guerdon.     Evil  to  repay 

With    good  was  Christ's  command,   and   Earth   witn 

Pleaven 
Is  thus  the  great  example  of  His  word. 
Enough  for  sinners  this,  for  all  which  live. 
Do  Thou,  Lord !  be  with  us.     In  Thee  we  live ; 
Our  treasure,  trust,  and  triumph  is  in  Thee. 
Behold  the  day  of  our  salvation  come 
Unto  the  countless  all  Thou  hast  redeemed ! 
The  ages  sweep  around  me  with  their  wings, 
Like  angered  eagles  cheated  of  their  prey. 
Reach  forth  your  arms,  ye  angels  !  wreathe  anew 
Your  starry  crowns.     Earth  was  betrothed  to  Heaver^ 
Upon  her  natal  day.     I  hear  them  come ; 
I  hear  the  armied  torrent  of  their  wings 
Hitherward  streaming.     Lo !  the  glowing  Heavfuis 
Are  rushing  to  receive  us.     Oh,  rejoice 
All  ye  that  are  immortal  —  and  whate'er 
Hath  been  predestined  to  eternal  end, 
The  day  determined  ere  all  time  was  dawns' 


Scene — Earth, 

Angels  and  Saints  —  An  A^g^Ij  descending  ;  Festus. 

Saint.     Whence  art  thoul 

Angel.     1 "?  from  Heaven,  and  thither  tend  ;  — 


620  FESTUS. 

One  moment  here  to  bid  ye  to  prepare. 
Our  Lord  the  Eternal  Son  comes  hither,  girt 
With  His  victorious  hosts,  to  judge  the  world. 

Saint.     What  victory  hath  our  Almighty  gained  ? 

Angel.     One    final,  over  Death  and  Hell.     Shout; 
Earth ! 
Thy  freedom  is  accomplished,  and  thy  foes 
Brought  down  to  endless  ruin. 

Saint.  Angel,  speak ! 

We  burn  to  learn  the  tidings  of  this  war. 
Whereof  thou  tell'st,  and  doubtless  wast  a  part. 

Angel.     Hot  from  the  fight  I  come.      This    light- 
ning blade 
Hath  holpen  well  to  thin  the  infernal  rout. 
Which  back  hath  fled  to  hell,  howling  like  winds. 
But  let  me,  at  your  will,  ye  peaceful  saints, 
Relate  what  happened  to  us,  from  first  to  last. 
The  time  was  come  in  Heaven  when  God  the  Son, 
Bowing  His  head  before  the  Omnipotent, 
Who  doubled  every  blessing  infinite 
Wherewith  He  had  enriched  His  Only  One 
From  first,  rose  from  His  glorious  throne,  and  stepped 
Into  His  sun-bright  car,  calling  aloud 
His  angels  to  attend  Him  while  He  went 
To  judge  the  earth,  as  foreordained  of  old ; 
That  Heaven  and  Earth  might  view  the  majesty 
And  mercy  of  the  God  of  all.     We  came, 
Selectest  spirits,  countless  —  crowded  bright 
As  the  gn^at  stream  of  stars  which  flows  through  Heaven 


FESTUS.  621 

Fast  by  the  foot  of  God,  each  wave  a  world  — 

Eager  to  eye  this  act  of  glory  long 

Talked  of  in  Heaven,  and  now  to  be  achieved. 

Forth  from  the  starry  towers,  and  world-wide  walls 

Of  Heaven,  we  sat  in  high  and  silent  joy, 

And  journeyed  half  our  way  through  Heaven,  when  lo 

A  sight  which  checked  the  foremost,  flaming  ranks, 

That  halted  frontwise,  working  doubt  at  first, 

But  triumph  after.     Shielded  and  drawn  up  close, 

Behind  a  broken  and  decaying  world. 

From  which  the  light  had  vanished  like  the  light 

Out  of  a  death-shrunk  eye,  sat  Lucifer  — 

Midst  in  the  powers  of  darkness,  and  the  hosts 

Of  hell,  enthroned  sublime ;  and  all  were  still 

As  ambushed  silence  round  the  foe  of  God. 

But  Oh  '  hew  changed  from  him  we  knew  in  Heaven, 

Whose   brightness   nothing    made    might    match   nor 

mar:  — 
Who  rose,  and  it  was  morn  ;  —  who  stretched  his  wing, 
And  stepped  from  star  to  star ;  —  so  changed  he  showed 
Most  like  a  shadowy  meteor,  through  which 
The  stars  dim  glint  —  woe- wasted,  pined  with  pain. 
And  by  his  side  there  sat  or  shrank  a  shape 
We  angels  knew  not,  but  the  Son  of  God 
Knew  him,  and  called  him  Death;    whom,  when  he 

saw. 
Arousing,  after,  out  of  sleep  intense. 
That  .unrealmed  tyrant  drew  his  mortal  dart, 
And  drave  it  through  himself,  —  a  shade,  shade-quelled 


622  FESTUS. 

Then  to  that  chief  of  mischief  and  his  fiends, 

Who,  thick  as  burning  stones  that  from  the  throat 

Of  some  volcano  foul  the  benighted  sky, 

Shot  up  triumphant  into  air  as  they 

Beheld  our  ranks^  move  on,  thus  spake  our  Lord, — 

Not  wrathfully,  but  sternly  pitying: 

Hell's  wretched  remnant !  wherefore  crouch  ye  here  \ 

Is  it  to  sue  destruction,  or  to  bar 

My  passage  1     If  it  be,  in  both  ye  err. 

And  will  ye  trust  yourselves  again  to  war 

With  me.  Almighty]     Have  I  not  overcome 

Ye  separately,  both  1     Speak,  brutal  Death !  — 

Fit  follower  and  fellow  to  all  woes, — 

Wherefore  this  instantaneous  haste  from  hell, 

And  both  from  Hadeauj, bondage,  thus  again 

So  soon  to  compass  mightiest  wickedness. 

And  tempt  extremest  wrath?     Speak,  head  of  belli 

To  Him  thus  Lucifer :  Almighty  Son  ! 

Thy  power  I  defy  not ;  but  in  peace 

I  war  with  fate.     My  life  is  to  destroy. 

Evil  hath  more  activity,  if  good 

More  strength:   and  one  must  wear  the  other  out. 

The  more  august  the  sin,  so  much  the  more 

Is  my  necessity.     Yon  Earth  hath  been 

The  battle-plain  of  Heaven  and  Hell.     From  Thee, 

Who  knowest  all  things,  it  were  vain  to  hide 

My  purpose,  which  for  a  thousand  years,  the  yeav 

Of  bondage,  hath  grown  in  me  and  lived  on. 

Toad-like  within  a  rock  —  vital  where  all 


YESTUS.  628 

Beside  was  death  —  to  seize  the  nascent  souls 

Of  men  as  they  re-rose  from  death  to  life, 

And  sweep  them  off  in  midst  of  all  these  hosts, 

Assembled  for  that  cause  here  as  Thou  seest, 

To  hell ;  -^  the  universal  race  of  man. 

But  if  ordained  that  not  on  them,  but  Thee 

And  Thine,  old  hate  shall  satisfy  itself, 

Approach  no  nearer ;  for  we  live  by  death ;  — 

Or  turn  the  tide  of  fate.  Thou  sole  who  canst ! 

Ceasing  thereat,  his  host  upraised  a  shout 

Which  shook  the  stars,  and  made  them  ring  again. 

Our  Lord  to  him  then  spake  thus,  mild  as  Spring 

Addressing  Earth  when  smiling  she  lets  fall 

All  flowerets  from  her  lips :    'Tis  well  there  is  a  Gc^d 

Lo  !  to  what  base  extremes  ir:fernal  pride 

Can  push  a  princely  spirit  once  in  Heaven. 

Thee  we  will  not  destroy  now,  for  thine  hour 

Hath  yet  to  come  —  when  least  thou  thinkest  it. 

God's  wrath  thou  hast  endured  in  punishment, 

Not  yet  His  power.     Away!     I  warn  ye  hence. 

Ere  wrath  ride  forth  again.     To  Him  the  fiend 

Answered:  God  rules  not  us  the  unordered  damned. 

Nor  recks  of  hell.     For  ages  past  belief, 

Unless  by  those  who,  like  ourselves,  denied 

Thine  own  eternity  —  by  creature  mind, 

However  lofty,  hardly  compassed  —  we 

Have  borne  our  pain  without  remorse,  or  sign 

Of  pity  from  our  Maker.     Shall  we  now 

Believe,  whilst  thus  confronting  Him  again, 


624  FESTUS. 

He  means  us  better]     Never  worse  than  now. 
Therefore  I  say  to  ye,  On!  mightiest  fiends, 
On !     Let  us  reap  companions  for  our  woes. 
Or  earn  annihilation  !     At  the  word, 
His>  fiery  phalanx  rushed  to  bar  the  way 
l»f  Him  whose  ways  are  over  all  His  works. 
^  million  spears  blazed  forth  their  answer  bright, 
As  of  as  many  tongues.     Serene  our  ranks 
^tood  as  the  stars  o'er  thunder.     God  the  Son 
Sate  in  His  orbed  car,  and  breathed  on  them : 
And  they  were  rolled  up  like  the  desert  sands 
Before     the     ourning    wind,  —  throne     wrecked     on 

throne, 
All  ruined  and  foredone.     Pursue !    He  cried. 
Nor  let  them  near  the  earth  I  go  to  judge. 
And  we  pursued,  as  many  as  He  chose, 
\nd    chased    from    sphere   to    sphere   that   wretched 

wreck 
Of  falsest  fiends  ;  —  and  I,  it  seems,  am  first 
Of  all  my  victor  brethren  to  declare 
The  triumph  past  and  coming,  and  to  cheer 
Your  hearts  with  tidings  of  our  Lord,  to  whom 
Be  glory  for  His  universal  deeds. 
And  to  Him,  only  God! 

Saint.  Behold  where  comes 

Another  warrior-angel  from  on  high; 
Like  angels,  always  singly  or  in  hosts. 

Angel.     It  is  the  most  dread  Azrael,  unto  whom 
The  sword  of  Death  is  given  as  a  boon. 


FESTUS.  625 

Saint.     What  sayst  thou,  heavenly  one? 

AzRAEL.'  To  the  extreme  bound 

Of  Light's  domain  we  chased  the  flying  foe, 
Who  on  the  confines  of  the  lower  air 
Once  rallied  at  their  leader's  stern  command. 
Whom  more  they  fear,  or  seem  to  fear,  than  God. 
They  halted,  formed,  and  faced  us.     I  and  mine, 
As  on  we  came  in  order,  full  career. 
Exalted  by  success,  hoped  ardently 
One  more  convincing  contest ;  but  in  spite 
Of  future  woe,  or  the  tempestuous  threats 
Of  the  great  fiend  who  marshalled  them,  each  eyed 
His  neighbor  pale ;  their  trembling  shook  all  air ; 
And  each  one  lift  his  arm,  but  no  one  struck. 
Awhile  in  dead  throe-like  suspense  they  stood. 
Or  like  the  irresolution  of  the  sea 
At  turn  of  tide  —  then  wheeled  and  fled  amain. 
And  in  one  mass  immense  broke  down  from  Heaven, 
Cliff-like ;  —  there  let  them  lie  !  such  fate  have  fiends. 
And  we  returned,  hoping  to  meet,  as  charge 
To  all  was  given,  the  Lord  our  glory  here. 

Archanget  .     Let  all  the  dead  rejoice !  their  Savior 
comes. 

7ft  AAA 


626  7ESTUS. 


Scene  —  The  Judgment  of  Earth,  • 

The  Son  op  God,  the  Archangel,  Saints  and 
Angels. 

Archangel.     Let  all  the  dead  rejoice !  their  Savioi 
comes ; 
With  clouds  of  angels  circled  like  a  sun, 
Belted  with  light,  and  brighter  than  all  light. 
Lo  !  He  descends  and  seats  Him  on  His  throne, 
Alighting  like  a  new-made  sun  in  Heaven. 
The  world  awaits  Thee,  Lord !     Rise,  souls  of  men. 
Buried  beneath  all  ages  from  the  first  ; 
Ye  numbered  and  unnumbered,  loathed  and  loved, 
Awake  to  judgment !     Rise !  the  grave  no  more 
Hath  power  upon  ye  than  the  ravening  sea 
Upon  the  stars  of  Heaven.     Ye  elements ! 
Give  back  your  stolen  dead.     He  claimeth  them 
Whose  they  both  were  and  are,  and  aye  shall  be. 

Son  of  God.     I  come  to  repay  sin  with  holiness, 
And  death  with  immortality;  man's  soul 
With  God's  Spirit;  all  evil  with  all  gtioa. 
All  men  have  sinned:  and  as  for  all  1  died. 
All  men  are  saved.     Oh!  not  a  single  soul 
Less  than  the  countless  all  can  satisfy 
The  infinite  triumph  which  to  me  belongs, 
Who  infinitely  suffered.     Ye  elect ! 
And  all  ye  angels,  with  God's  love  informed, 


FESTUS.  627 

Who  reign  with  me  o'er  Earth  and  Heaven,  assume 
Your  seats  of  judgment.     Judge  ye  all  in  love, 
The  love  which  God  the  Father  hath  to  you  — 
For  His  Son's  sake,  and  all  shall  be  forgiven. 

Saints.     Lord  !  let  us  render  back  to  Thee  the  love 
Which  is  Thine  own :  none  else  is  worthy  Thee. 

Son  of  God.     Behold  this  day  I  dwell  with  ye  on 
Earth, 
E'en  to  the  last ;    the  next  shall  be  in  Heaven, 
Where  ye  shall  meet  the  Father,  and  remain 
In  the  eternal  presence.  He  through  me 
Blessing  all  spirits  overfiowingly. 

Saints.     Dear  Lord,  our  God  and  Savior!  for  Thy 
gifts 
The  world  were  poor  in  thanks,  though  every  soul 
Were  to  do  nought  but  breathe  them,  every  blade 
Of  grass  and  every  atomy  of  earth 
To  utter  it  like  dew.     Thy  ways  are  plain 
Only  in  Thine  own  light.     And  this  great  day 
Unveils  all  nature's  laws  and  miracles  — 
All  to  Thee  all  as  one.     Thy  death  was  life ; 
Thy  judgment  is  all  mercy.  Lord  of  Love ! 
The  world's  incomprehensible  no  more 
To  man,  but  all  is  bright  as  new-born  star. 

Son  of  God.     The  Book  of  Life  is  opened.    Heaven 
begins. 


628  FESTUS. 

Scene  —  The  Heaven  of  Heavens, 
The  RrcoRDiNG  Angel,  Lucifer,  FESTbs,  Angels. 

The  Eecording  Angel.     AU,  men  are  judged  save 
one. 

Son  of  God.     He,  too,  is  saveu. 
Immortal!  I  have  saved  thy  soul  to  Heaven. 
;^ome  hither.     All  hearts  bear  themselves  to  me, 
A.S  nlouds  unbind  their  bosoms  to  the  sun ; 
.^d  ihine  was  wealthy  in  the  gifts  of  good. 
And,  if  its  guilt  and  glory  lay  in  love. 
Let  light  outweigh  the  darkness!     Thou  art  saved. 

Saints.     Rejoice  !  Rejoice ! 

Festus.  Could  I,  Lord !  pour  my  soul  out, 

In  thanks,  even  as  a  river  rolling  ever, 
It  would  be  too  scant  for  what  I  owe  to  Thee. 

Son  of  God.     Nay ;  immortality  is  long  enough, 
As  life,  or  as  a  moment  is,  to  show 
Thy  love  of  good,  thy  thanks  to  me  and  God. 
One  heart-throb  sometimes  earneth  Heaven  —  one  tear. 

Festus.     My  Maker!   let   me    thank  Thee,  I  have 
lived, 
And  live  a  deathless  witness  of  Thy  grace. 
And  Thee,  the  Holy  One,  who  hast  chosen  me. 
From  old  eternity,  while  yet  I  lay 
Hid,  like  a  thought  in  God,  unuttered  —  Thou, 
Who  makest  finite  full  with  the  Infinite, 


FESTUS.  629 

As  is  a  womb  with  an  immortal  spirit, 

Oh !  let  me  thank  Thee  that  I  witness  to  The*' 

And  Thou,  mid-God !  my  Savior,  and  my  Judge ! 

Sun  of  the  soul,  whose  day  is  now  all  noon  — 

Who  makest  of  the  universe  one  Heaven  — 

I  praise  Thee.     Heaven  doth  praise  Thee.     God  doth 

praise  Thee. 
The  Holy  Ghost  doth  praise  Thee.      Praise  Thyself! 

Lucifer.     Is  he  not  mine"? 

GoD. 

Evil !  away,  for  aye  ! 
In  the  beginning,  ere  I  bade  things  be  — 
Or  ever  I  begat  the  worlds  on  space, 
I  knew  of  him,  and  saved  him  in  my  Son, 
Who  now  hath   judged ;    for,  fraught  with  Godhood, 

He 
Yet  feels  the  frailties  of  the  things  He  has  made ; 
And  therefore  can,  like-feelingly,  judge  them. 
For  I  abide  not  sin;  and  in  my  Son 
There  is  no  sin  —  not  that  He  takes  away. 
It  is  destroyed  forever  and  made  nothing. 

Son  of  God.     Spirit,  depart !  this  mortal  loved  me 
With  all  his  doubts,  he  never  doubted  God  ; 
But  from  doubt  gathered  truth,  like  snow  from  clouds. 
The  most,  and  whitest,  from  the  darkest.     Go  ! 

Lucifer.     I  leave  thee,  Festus.     Here  thou  wilt  be 
happy. 
To  be  in  Heaven  is  to  love  forever 
God  —  and  thou  must  love  here      Here  thou  wilt  find 


620  FESTUS. 

All  that  thou  canst  and  oughtst  to  love;  for  souls, 

Re-made  of  God,  and  moulded  over  again 

Into  his  sun-like  emblems,  multiply 

His  might  and  love :  the  saved  are  suns,  not  earths , 

And  with  original  glory  shine  of  God. 

While  I  shall  keep  on  deepening  in  my  darkness. 

With  not  one  gleam  across  the  gloom  of  being. 

Festus.      Let  us  part,  spirit !      It   may  be   in    the 
coming, 
That  as  we  sometime  were  all  worth  God's  making. 
We  may  be  worth  forgiving;  taking  back 
Into  His  bosom,  pure  again  —  and  then. 
All  shall  be  one  with  Him,  who  is  one  in  all. 

Lucifer.     It  may  be,  then,  that  I  shall  die.     Fare- 
well. 
Forgive  me  that  I  tempted  thee ! 

Festus.  I  am  glad. 

God. 
Stay,  spirit!  all  created  things  unmade 
It  suits  not  the  eternal  laws  of  good 
That  Evil  be  immortal.     In  all  space 
Is  joy  and  glory,  and  the  gladdened  stars, 
Exultant  in  the  sacrifice  of  sin. 
And  of  all  human  matter  in  themselves. 
Leap  forth  as  though  to  welcome  Earth  to  Heaven  — 
Leap  forth  and  die.     All  nature  disappears. 
Shadows  are  passed  away.     Through  all  is  ligh':. 
Man  is  as  high  above  temptation  now, — 
And  where  by  grace  he  always  shall  remain 


FESTUS.  631 

As  ever  sun  o'er  sea;  and  sin  is  burnt 

In  hell  to  ashes  with  the  dust  of  death. 

The  worlds  themselves  are  but  as  dreams  within 

Their  souls  who  lived  in  them,  and  thou  art  null 

And  thy  vocation  useless,  gone  with  them. 

Therefore  shall  Heaven  rejoice  in  thee  again, 

And  the  lost  tribes  of  angels  who  with  thee 

Wedded  themselves  to  woe,  and  all  who  dwell 

Around  the  dizzy  centres  of  all  worlds, 

Again  be  blessed  with  the  blessedest. 

Lo  !  ye  are  all  restored,  rebought,  rebrought 

To  Heaven  by  Him  who  cast  ye  forth,  your  God. 

Receive  ye  tenfold  of  all  gifts  and  powers. 

And  thou  who  cam'st  to  Heaven  to  claim  one  soul, 

Remain  possessed  by  all.     The  sons  of  bliss 

Shall  welcome  thee  again,  and  all  thy  hosts. 

Whereof  thou  first  in  glory  as  in  woe  — 

In  brightness  as  in  darkness  erst  —  shalt  shine. 

Take,  Lucifer,  thy  place.     This  day  art  thou 

Redeemed  to  archangelic  state.     Bright  child 

Of  morning,  once  again  thou  shinest  fair 

O'er  all  the  starry  armaments  of  light. 

Lucifer.     The  highest  and  the  humblest  I  of  all 
The  beings  Thou  hast  made.  Eternal  Lord ! 

Angel.     Behold  they  come,  the  legions  of  the  lost, 
Transformed  already  by  the  bare  behest 
Of  God  our  Maker  to  the  purest  form 
If  seraph  brightness. 

The  Restored  Angels.     His  be  all  the  praise  . 


6f32  FESTUS. 

And  ours  submissive  thanks.     When  evil  had  done 
Its  worst,  then  God  most  blessed  us  and  forgave. 
Oh,  He  hath  triumphed  over  all  the  world, 
In  mercy,  over  Death,  and  Earth,  and  Hell! 
•Son    of    God      All    God    hath    made    are    saved. 

Heaven  is  complete. 
Guardian  Angel.     Hither  with  me! 
Festus.  But  where  are  those  I  love? 

Angel.     Yon  happy  troop] 

Festus.  Ah !  blest  ones,  come  to  me  ! 

liOves  of  my  heart  on  Earth,  and  soul  in  Heaven ! 
Are  ye  all  here,  too,  with  me  1 

All.  All ! 

Festus.  It  is  Heaven. 

Angel.     Come,  let  us  join  our  souls  into  the  song 
Of  glory,  which  the  saved  all  sing,  to  God. 
The  Saved.     Father  of  goodness. 
Son  of  love. 
Spirit  of  comfort, 
Be  with  us  ! 
God  who  hast  made  us, 
God  who  hast  saved, 
God  who  hast  judged  us, 
Thee  we  praise. 
Heaven  our  spirits, 
Hallow  our  hearts ; 
Let  us  have  God-light 
Endlessly. 
Ours  is  the  wide  world. 


FESTUS.  ^33 

Heaven  on  Heaven; 

What  have  we  done,  Lord, 

Worthy  this? 

On !  we  have  loved  Thee ; 

That  alonb 

Maketh  our  glory, 

Duty,  meed. 

Oh !  we  have  loved  Thee ! 

Love  w^e  will 

Ever,  and  every 

Soul  of  us. 

God  of  the  saved. 

God  of  the  tried, 

God  of  the  lost  ones. 

Be  with  all! 

Let  us  be  near  Thee 

Ever  and  aye ; 

Oh  !  let  us  love  Thee 

Infinite ! 
Festus.      So,    soul   and   song,   begin    and    end    in 
Heaven, 
Yotiv  birthplace  and  your  everlasting  home. 

Angels.     In  Heaven  extolled  are  now  all  souls  of 
Earth, 
And  each  particular  essence  at  Thy  word, 
O  God!  rejoins  the  pure  and  pious  skies. 
All  government,  rule,  empire  is  at  last 
United  here,  the  kingdom  sole  of  Heaven, 
Meant  from  the  first  for  universal  rule. 

80 


634  FESTUS. 

In  boundless  bliss  all  creatural  power  is  now 

Essentially  and  evermore  absorbed. 

Henceforth  the  holy  offspring  of  the  word 

Of  all-sustaining  grace  shall  teach  the  souls 

Victors  through  God,  eternal  virtue's  truth, 

Adding  celestial  might  to  every  thought 

Hallowed  by  Thee,  by  Thee  all  thought  inspired. 

The  Gods  are  one  God,  and  all  power  is  His. 

High  over  all,  and  deep  in  all,  dost  Thou 

Kver  rule  one  thing  by  another;  still 

On  all  Thy  throne  is  based,  and  round  all  Thou 

Stretchest  the  line  unlimited  of  Heaven. 

Divine  and  holy  is  Thine  every  work. 

Eternal  only  as  ordained  by  Thee, 

Unknown  but  to  Thyself,  who  dost  remain 

Steadfast  in  love,  though  Heaven  and  Earth  rebel. 

All  sway  is  Thine,  Lord !     Heaven  and  Earth  are  one 

In  universal  glory :  world  by  world 

Night  renders  up  to  Thee  the  fruit  of  light, 

Sown  in  her  bosom,  reaped  and  ripened  here  : 

Unutterably  happy  to  approach 

Perfection  in  the  Infinite,  how.  far. 

How  high  soever,  still  to  Thee  allied. 

All  blessing  God  !   who  with  Thy  boundless  love 

Dost  deify  the  Heavens,  and  make  the  soul 

Of  man  expand  with  immortality, 

Now  we  with  him  in  fourfold  joy  rejoice, 

And  all  the  heavenly  hierarchies  of  light, 

Ineffable,  adore  Thy  grace  supreme. 


FESTUS.  685 

All  sanctifying  Lord  of  love  and  might, 
Let  whole  creation  testify  to  Thee 
As  vice  to  virtue,  darkness  to  the  light. 
Hell  thus  to  Heaven,  and  man  to  Deity !  — 
Glory  to  Thee,  our  God,  who  all  to  prove. 
Of  Earth  the  law,  of  Heaven  the  grace  above, 
Dost  make  the  great  I  am,  the  all  I  love. 

The    Holy  Ghost.     Time    there   hath   been    when 
only  God  was  all ; 
And  it  shall  be  again.     The  hour  is  named, 
When  seraph,  cherub,  angel,  saint,  man,  fiend. 
Made  pure,  and  unbelievably  uplift 
Above  their  present  state  —  drawn  up  to  God, 
Like  dew  into  the  air  —  shall  be  all  Heaven ; 
And  all  souls  shall  be  in  God,  and  shall  be  God, 
And  nothing  but  God,  be. 

Son  of  God.  Let  all  be  God's. 

God. 
World  without  end,  and  I  am  God  alone  ; 
The  Aye,  the  Infinite,  the  Whole,  the  One. 
I  only  was  —  nor  matter  else,  nor  mind. 
The  self-contained  Perfection  unconfined. 
I  only  am  —  in  might  and  mercy  one ; 
I  live  in  all  things,  and  am  closed  in  none. 
1  only  shall  be  —  when  the  worlds  have  done, 
My  boundless  Being  will  be  but  begun. 


L'ENVOI. 

Eead  this,  world!     He  who  writes  is  dead  to  thee, 

But  still  lives  in  these  leaves.     He  spake  inspired : 

Night  and  day  thought  came  unhelped,  undesired, 
Like  blood  to  his  heart.     The  course  of  study  he 
Went  through  was  of  the  soul-rack.     The  degree 

He  took  was  high :  it  was  wise  wretchedness. 

He  suffered  perfectly,  and  gained  no  less 
A  prize  than,  in  his  own  torn  heart,  to  see 

A  few  bright  seeds:  he  sowed  them  —  hoped  them 
truth. 
The  autumn  of  that  seed  is  in  these  pages. 

God  was  with   him ;    and   bade   old   Time,  to    the 
youth, 
Unclench  his  heart,  and  teach  the  book  of  ages. 

Peace   to  thee,  world!  —  farewell!      May  God   the 
Power, 
And  God  the  Love,  and  God  the  Grace,  be  ours ! 


"5^ 


14  DAY  USE 

RETURN  TO  DESK  FROM  WHICH  BORROWED 
LOAN  DEPT. 

This  book  is  due  on  the  last  date  stamped  below,  or 

on  the  date  to  which  renewed. 

Renewed  books  are  subject  to  immediate  recall. 


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